Cinderella stars Helena Bonham Carter and Lily James.

Cinderella (2015 Disney film) Cinderella is a 2015 American romantic fantasy film directed by Kenneth Branagh , with a screenplay written by Chris Weitz . The film is based on the eponymous folk tale and inspired in part by Walt Disney 's 1950 animated film . The film stars Lily James as the titular character with Richard Madden , Cate Blanchett , Stellan Skarsgård , Holliday Grainger , Derek Jacobi and Helena Bonham Carter . It is produced by David Barron , Simon Kinberg and Allison Shearmur for Walt Disney Pictures .   Cinderella had its world premiere on February 13 , 2015 , at the 65th Berlin International Film Festival and was released in theaters on March 13 , 2015 . It grossed over $ 543 million worldwide , becoming Branagh 's highest-grossing film to date , and received mostly positive reviews . The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Costume Design at the 88th Academy Awards .


Dan Aykroyd was nominated for an Academy Award.

Dan Aykroyd Daniel Edward `` Dan '' Aykroyd ( born July 1 , 1952 ) is a Canadian-American actor , comedian , producer , voice artist , screenwriter , musician and businessman . He was an original member of the `` Not Ready for Prime Time Players '' on Saturday Night Live ( 1975 -- 1979 ) . A musical sketch he performed with John Belushi on SNL , The Blues Brothers , turned into an actual performing band and then a highly successful 1980 film , also called The Blues Brothers . He conceived and starred in Ghostbusters ( 1984 ) , which spawned a sequel ( Ghostbusters II ) and eventually an entire media franchise . In 1990 , he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his work in the 1989 film Driving Miss Daisy . He starred in his own sitcom , Soul Man , from 1997 -- 98 . Aykroyd is also a successful businessman , having co-founded the House of Blues chain of music venues and the Crystal Head Vodka brand .


Lust for Life is based on a 1930's piano.

Lust for Life (film) Lust for Life ( 1956 ) is a MGM ( Metrocolor ) biographical film about the life of the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh , based on the 1934 novel of the same name by Irving Stone and adapted by Norman Corwin .   It was directed by Vincente Minnelli and produced by John Houseman . The film stars Kirk Douglas as Van Gogh , James Donald as his brother Theo , Pamela Brown , Everett Sloane and Anthony Quinn , who won an Oscar for his performance as Van Gogh 's fast friend and rival Paul Gauguin .


Mike Love was a founding member of The Beach Boys.

The Beach Boys The Beach Boys are an American rock band formed in Hawthorne , California , in 1961 . The group 's original lineup consisted of brothers Brian , Dennis , and Carl Wilson ; their cousin Mike Love ; and their friend Al Jardine . Distinguished by their vocal harmonies and early surf songs , they are one of the most influential acts of the rock era . The group , led by their principal songwriter and producer Brian , pioneered novel approaches to popular music form and production , combining their affinities for jazz-based vocal groups , 1950s rock and roll , and black R&B to create their unique sound . He later arranged his compositions for studio orchestras and explored a variety of other styles , often incorporating classical or jazz elements and unconventional recording techniques in innovative ways .   The Beach Boys began as a garage band managed by the Wilsons ' father Murry , with Brian 's increasingly sophisticated songwriting and recording abilities dominating their creative direction . Emerging at the vanguard of the `` California Sound '' , they performed original material that reflected a southern California youth culture of surfing , cars , and romance . After 1964 , they abandoned the surfing aesthetic for more personal lyrics and multi-layered sounds . In 1966 , the Pet Sounds album and `` Good Vibrations '' single vaulted the group to the top level of rock innovators and established the band as symbols of the nascent counterculture era . Following the dissolution of the group 's Smile project in 1967 , Brian gradually ceded production and songwriting duties to the rest of the band , reducing his input because of mental health and substance abuse issues . The group 's public image subsequently faltered , and despite efforts to continue their psychedelic/avant-garde ventures and reclaim their hippie audiences , they were dismissed as an embodiment of the values and outlooks shared by early 1960s white , suburban teenagers .   The continued success of their greatest hits albums during the mid 1970s precipitated the band 's transition into an oldies act , a move that was denigrated by critics and many fans . Since the 1980s , much-publicized legal wrangling over royalties , songwriting credits and use of the band 's name transpired . Dennis drowned in 1983 and Carl died of lung cancer in 1998 . After Carl 's death , many live configurations of the band fronted by Mike Love and Bruce Johnston continued to tour into the 2000s while other members pursued solo projects . Even though Wilson and Jardine have not performed with Love and Johnston 's band since their one-off 2012 reunion tour , they remain a part of the Beach Boys ' corporation , Brother Records Inc. .   The Beach Boys are one of the most critically acclaimed , commercially successful , and widely influential bands of all time . The group had over eighty songs chart worldwide , thirty-six of them US Top 40 hits ( the most by an American rock band ) , four reaching number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart . The Beach Boys have sold in excess of 100 million records worldwide , making them one of the world 's best-selling bands of all time and are listed at No. 12 on Rolling Stone magazine 's 2004 list of the `` 100 Greatest Artists of All Time '' . The core quintet of the three Wilsons , Love and Jardine were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 .


Mike Love Michael Edward `` Mike '' Love ( born March 15 , 1941 ) is an American singer , songwriter , musician , and activist who co-founded the Beach Boys . Characterized by his nasal , sometimes baritone singing , Love has been one of the band 's vocalists and lyricists for most of their career , contributing to each of their studio albums . He is often regarded as a malign figure in the band 's history , a reputation he acknowledges : `` For those who believe that Brian -LSB- Wilson -RSB- walks on water , I will always be the Antichrist . ''   In the 1960s , Love collaborated with Wilson and was a lyricist on singles including `` Fun , Fun , Fun '' ( 1964 ) and `` California Girls '' ( 1965 ) . During this period , his lyrics primarily reflected the youth culture of surfing , cars , and romance , which helped fashion pop culture 's perception of the `` California Dream '' . Starting in 1968 , Love became a teacher of Transcendental Meditation under Maharishi Mahesh Yogi . The experience influenced his lyrics to take on themes of astrology , meditation , politics and ecology . Following this , Love 's lyrical direction shifted to attempt to recapture the band 's earlier , lighthearted sound . In the late 1970s , Love began working on solo albums , releasing his first and only in 1981 : Looking Back with Love . In 1988 , he , along with the other founding members of the Beach Boys , was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame . The same year , the song , `` Kokomo '' , co-written by Love , reached number one in the United States and was nominated for a Grammy .   In 1998 , following the death of cousin Carl Wilson , Love and longtime Beach Boy Bruce Johnston were given an exclusive license to tour under the name the Beach Boys . The other surviving Beach Boys , Brian Wilson and Al Jardine , embarked on solo endeavors . In 2011 , the group reunited to produce a new album and embark on a tour for their 50th anniversary . Following the 50th anniversary reunion shows , Love resumed touring only with Johnston .


Lyndon B. Johnson was victorious over Barry Goldwater in the 1964 United States presidential election.

Lyndon B. Johnson Lyndon Baines Johnson ( -LSB- ˈlɪndən_ˈbeɪnz_ˈdʒɒnsən -RSB- August 27 , 1908January 22 , 1973 ) , often referred to as LBJ , was an American politician who served as the 36th President of the United States from 1963 to 1969 , assuming the office after serving as the 37th Vice President of the United States under President John F. Kennedy from 1961 to 1963 . A Democrat from Texas , he also served as a United States Representative and as the Majority Leader in the United States Senate . Johnson is one of only four people who have served in all four federal elected positions .   Born in a farmhouse in Stonewall , Texas , Johnson was a high school teacher and worked as a Congressional aide before winning election to the House of Representatives in 1937 . He won election to the Senate in 1948 , and was appointed the position of Senate Majority Whip in 1951 . He became the Senate Minority Leader in 1953 and the Senate Majority Leader in 1955 . As a leader in the Senate , Johnson became known for his domineering personality and the `` Johnson treatment '' , his aggressive coercion of powerful politicians to advance legislation . Johnson ran for the Democratic nomination in the 1960 presidential election . Although unsuccessful , he was chosen by then-Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts to be his running mate . They went on to win a close election over the Republican ticket of Richard Nixon and Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. , and Johnson was sworn in as Vice President on January 20 , 1961 . On November 22 , 1963 , Johnson succeeded Kennedy as President following the latter 's assassination . Johnson won a landslide re-election in 1964 , defeating Republican Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona .   In domestic policy , Johnson designed the `` Great Society '' legislation by upholding civil rights , public broadcasting , Medicare , Medicaid , aid to education , the arts , urban and rural development , public services , and his `` War on Poverty '' . Assisted in part by a growing economy , the War on Poverty helped millions of Americans rise above the poverty line during his administration . Civil rights bills that he signed into law banned racial discrimination in public facilities , interstate commerce , the workplace , and housing ; the Voting Rights Act prohibited certain requirements in southern states used to disenfranchise African Americans . With the passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 , the country 's immigration system was reformed , encouraging greater immigration from regions other than Europe . Johnson 's presidency marked the peak of modern liberalism after the New Deal era .   In foreign policy , Johnson escalated American involvement in the Vietnam War . In 1964 , Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution , which granted Johnson the power to use military force in Southeast Asia without having to ask for an official declaration of war . The number of American military personnel in Vietnam increased dramatically , from 16,000 advisors in non-combat roles in 1963 to 525,000 in 1967 , many in combat roles . American casualties soared and the peace process bogged down . Growing unease with the war stimulated a large , angry antiwar movement based especially on university campuses .   Johnson faced further troubles when summer riots broke out in most major cities after 1965 , and crime rates soared , as his opponents raised demands for `` law and order '' policies . While he began his presidency with widespread approval , support for Johnson declined as the public became upset with both the war and the growing violence at home . In 1968 , the Democratic Party factionalized as antiwar elements denounced Johnson ; he ended his bid for renomination after a disappointing finish in the New Hampshire primary . Nixon was elected to succeed him , as the New Deal coalition that had dominated presidential politics for 36 years collapsed . After he left office in January 1969 , Johnson returned to his Texas ranch , where he died of a heart attack at age 64 on January 22 , 1973 .   Johnson is ranked favorably by many historians because of his domestic policies and the passage of many major laws that affected civil rights , gun control , wilderness preservation , and Social Security . He also drew substantial criticism for his handling of the Vietnam War .


Compact Cassette The Compact Cassette or Musicassette ( MC ) , also commonly called cassette tape , audio cassette , or simply tape or cassette , is an analog magnetic tape recording format for audio recording and playback . It was released by Philips in 1962 , having been developed in Hasselt , Belgium . Compact cassettes come in two forms , either already containing content as a pre-recorded cassette , or as a fully recordable `` blank '' cassette . It was designed originally for dictation machines , but improvements in fidelity led the Compact Cassette to supplant the Stereo 8-track cartridge and reel-to-reel tape recording in most non-professional applications . Its uses ranged from portable audio to home recording to data storage for early microcomputers . The first cassette player ( although mono ) designed for use in car dashes was introduced in 1968 . Between the early 1970s and the early 2000s , the cassette was one of the two most common formats for prerecorded music , first alongside the LP record and later the compact disc ( CD ) .   Compact Cassettes contain two miniature spools , between which a magnetically coated , polyester-type plastic film is passed and wound . These spools and their attendant parts are held inside a protective plastic shell . Two stereo pairs of tracks ( four total ) or two monaural audio tracks are available on the tape ; one stereo pair or one monophonic track is played or recorded when the tape is moving in one direction and the second ( pair ) when moving in the other direction . This reversal is achieved either by manually flipping the cassette , or by having the machine itself change the direction of tape movement and head respectively ( `` auto-reverse '' ) .


Mixtape A mixtape ( also mix-tape or mix tape ) is a home-made compilation of music ( typically copyrighted songs taken from other sources ) recorded in a specific order , traditionally onto a cassette tape , though later replaced by CD or MP3 playlist formats . The songs can be sequential , or by beatmatching the songs and creating overlaps and fades between the end of one song and the beginning of another the tape may become a seamless whole . Compilations may include a selection of favorite songs , or music linked by theme or mood , perhaps tailored to the tape 's intended recipient .   Writing in 2004 , essayist Geoffrey O'Brien called the personal mix tape `` perhaps the most widely practiced American art form '' .   `` Mixtape '' is also used in hip hop to describe certain types of recordings , typically self-produced and independently released albums that are issued free of charge to gain publicity and/or circumvent possible copyright infringement .


Castaway (film) Castaway is a 1986 adventure-drama film starring Amanda Donohoe and Oliver Reed , and directed by Nicolas Roeg . It was adapted from its namesake 1984 book by Lucy Irvine , telling of her experiences of staying for a year with writer Gerald Kingsland on the isolated island of Tuin , between New Guinea and Australia .


Oliver Reed Robert Oliver Reed ( 13 February 1938 -- 2 May 1999 ) was an English actor known for his upper-class , macho image , hellraiser lifestyle , and `` tough guy '' roles . Notable films include The Trap ( 1966 ) , Oliver ! ( 1968 ) , Women in Love ( 1969 ) , Hannibal Brooks ( 1969 ) , The Devils ( 1971 ) , The Three Musketeers ( 1973 ) , Tommy ( 1975 ) , Lion of the Desert ( 1981 ) , Castaway ( 1986 ) , The Adventures of Baron Munchausen ( 1988 ) and Funny Bones ( 1995 ) . For Gladiator ( 2000 ) , his final film , Reed was posthumously nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role .   At the peak of his career , in 1971 , British exhibitors voted Reed 5th most popular star at the box office .


Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister of India.

Narendra Modi Narendra Damodardas Modi ( -LSB- ˈnəɾeːnd̪rə d̪aːmoːd̪əɾˈd̪aːs ˈmoːd̪iː -RSB- , born 17 September 1950 ) is an Indian politician who is the 14th and current Prime Minister of India , in office since May 2014 . He was the Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014 , and is the Member of Parliament for Varanasi . Modi , a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ) , is a Hindu nationalist and member of the right-wing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh ( RSS ) .   Born to a Gujarati family in Vadnagar , Modi helped his father sell tea as a child , and later ran his own stall . He was introduced to the RSS at the age of eight , beginning a long association with the organisation . He left home after graduating from school , partly because of an arranged marriage which he rejected . Modi traveled around India for two years , and visited a number of religious centres . He returned to Gujarat and moved to Ahmedabad in 1969 or 1970 . In 1971 he became a full-time worker for the RSS . During the state of emergency imposed across the country in 1975 , Modi was forced to go into hiding . The RSS assigned him to the BJP in 1985 , and he held several positions within the party hierarchy until 2001 , rising to the rank of general secretary .   Modi was appointed Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2001 , due to Keshubhai Patel 's failing health and poor public image following the earthquake in Bhuj . Modi was elected to the legislative assembly soon after . His administration has been considered complicit in the 2002 Gujarat riots , or otherwise criticised for its handling of it , although a court found no evidence to prosecute Modi . His policies as chief minister , credited with encouraging economic growth , have received praise . His administration has been criticised for failing to significantly improve health , poverty , and education indices in the state .   Modi led the BJP in the 2014 general election , which gave the party a majority in the Lok Sabha , the first time a single party had achieved this since 1984 . Modi himself was elected to parliament from Varanasi . Since taking office , Modi 's administration has tried to raise foreign direct investment in the Indian economy , increased spending on infrastructure , and reduced spending on healthcare and social welfare programmes . Modi has attempted to improve efficiency in the bureaucracy , and centralised power through the abolition of the planning commission . He has begun a high-profile sanitation campaign , and weakened or abolished environmental and labour laws . Credited with engineering a political realignment towards right-wing politics , Modi remains a figure of controversy domestically and internationally over his Hindu nationalist beliefs and his role during the 2002 Gujarat riots , cited as evidence of an exclusionary social agenda .


James Nesbitt portrayed the undercover detective Tommy Murphy in Murphy's Law.

James Nesbitt William James Nesbitt , ( born 15 January 1965 ) is an actor and presenter from Northern Ireland . Born in Ballymena , County Antrim , Nesbitt grew up in the nearby village of Broughshane , before moving to Coleraine , County Londonderry . He wanted to become a teacher like his father , so he began a degree in French at the University of Ulster . He dropped out after a year when he decided to become an actor , and transferred to the Central School of Speech and Drama in London . After graduating in 1987 , he spent seven years performing in plays that varied from the musical Up on the Roof ( 1987 , 1989 ) to the political drama Paddywack ( 1994 ) . He made his feature film debut playing talent agent Fintan O'Donnell in Hear My Song ( 1991 ) .   Nesbitt got his breakthrough television role playing Adam Williams in the romantic comedy-drama Cold Feet ( 1998 -- 2003 ) , which won him a British Comedy Award , a Television and Radio Industries Club Award , and a National Television Award . His first significant film role came when he appeared as pig farmer `` Pig '' Finn in Waking Ned ( 1998 ) . With the rest of the starring cast , Nesbitt was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award . In Lucky Break ( 2001 ) , he made his debut as a film lead , playing prisoner Jimmy Hands . The next year , he played Ivan Cooper in the television film Bloody Sunday , about the 1972 shootings in Derry . A departure from his previous `` cheeky chappie '' roles , the film was a turning point in his career . He won a British Independent Film Award and was nominated for the British Academy Television Award for Best Actor .   Nesbitt has also starred in Murphy 's Law ( 2001 -- 2007 ) as undercover detective Tommy Murphy , in a role that was created for him by writer Colin Bateman . The role twice gained Nesbitt Best Actor nominations at the Irish Film & Television Awards ( IFTA ) . In 2007 , he starred in the dual role of Tom Jackman and Mr Hyde in Steven Moffat 's Jekyll , which earned him a Golden Globe Award nomination in 2008 . Nesbitt has since appeared in several more dramatic roles ; he starred alongside Liam Neeson in Five Minutes of Heaven ( 2009 ) , and was one of three lead actors in the television miniseries Occupation ( 2009 ) . He also starred in the movies Outcast ( 2010 ) and The Way ( 2010 ) . He portrayed Bofur in Peter Jackson 's The Hobbit film series ( 2012-2014 ) . In 2014 , Nesbitt starred in the lead role as the father character Tony Hughes in the acclaim BBC One drama series The Missing .   Nesbitt was married to former actress Sonia Forbes-Adam , with whom he has two daughters . He is an advocate of numerous charities , and in 2010 he accepted the ceremonial position of Chancellor of the University of Ulster .


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


19 Kids and Counting was an America reality television series.

19 Kids and Counting 19 Kids and Counting ( formerly 17 Kids and Counting and 18 Kids and Counting ) was an American reality television show that aired on the cable channel TLC for seven years , until its cancellation in 2015 . The show featured the Duggar family : parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and their nineteen children -- nine girls and ten boys , all of whose names begin with the letter `` J. '' During the life of the show , three children were born , three children were married and four grandchildren were born .   The reality show focused on the life of the Duggar family who are devout Baptists . and frequently discussed values of purity , modesty , and faith in God . The Duggars avoid birth control saying they have decided to allow God to determine the number of children they have . All of the children are homeschooled , and access to entertainment such as movies and television is limited . They practice chaperoned courtship , in which a couple acquaints itself only in a group setting . The values presented on the show have been associated with the Quiverfull movement , which has been described as promoting strict family conformity , male hierarchies , and subservient roles for women . The Duggars have stated they are not associated with the Quiverfull movement .   The series began on September 29 , 2008 and concluded on May 19 , 2015 . The show was TLC 's most popular , averaging 2.3 million viewers per new episode in Season 10 , and scoring in the Nielsen `` Cable Top 25 . ''   On May 22 , 2015 , TLC suspended the series when the Duggars ' eldest son , Josh , publicly apologized for having `` acted inexcusably '' following reports that he molested five girls , including some of his sisters , by fondling them . These events occurred in 2002 and 2003 , when he was 14 to 15 years of age , and prior to the beginning of the show . On July 16 , 2015 , TLC announced that the show was officially canceled and would not resume production . A spin-off show , Counting On , aired in December 2015 and the fourth season will premiere June 12 , 2017 .


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 .


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


Lebanon is not a country that experienced a period of peace.

Lebanon Lebanon ( -LSB- ˈlɛbənɒn -RSB- لبنان ; Lebanese pronunciation : -LSB- lɪbˈnæːn -RSB- Liban ) , officially known as the Lebanese RepublicRepublic of Lebanon is the most common phrase used by Lebanese government agencies . The phrase Lebanese Republic is a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today 's world . Lebanese Arabic is the most common language spoken among the citizens of Lebanon . ( الجمهورية اللبنانية ; Lebanese pronunciation : -LSB- elˈʒʊmhuːɾɪjje l.ˈlɪbnæːnɪjje -RSB- République libanaise ) , is a sovereign state in Western Asia . It is bordered by Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south , while Cyprus is west across the Mediterranean Sea . Lebanon 's location at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian hinterland facilitated its rich history and shaped a cultural identity of religious and ethnic diversity . At just 10,452 km2 ( 4,036 sq. mi . ) , it is the smallest recognized country on the entire mainland Asian continent .   The earliest evidence of civilization in Lebanon dates back more than seven thousand years , predating recorded history . Lebanon was the home of the Canaanites/Phoenicians and their kingdoms , a maritime culture that flourished for over a thousand years ( c. 1550 -- 539 BC ) . In 64 BC , the region came under the rule of the Roman Empire , and eventually became one of the Empire 's leading centers of Christianity . In the Mount Lebanon range a monastic tradition known as the Maronite Church was established . As the Arab Muslims conquered the region , the Maronites held onto their religion and identity . However , a new religious group , the Druze , established themselves in Mount Lebanon as well , generating a religious divide that has lasted for centuries . During the Crusades , the Maronites re-established contact with the Roman Catholic Church and asserted their communion with Rome . The ties they established with the Latins have influenced the region into the modern era .   The region eventually was ruled by the Ottoman Empire from 1516 to 1918 . Following the collapse of the empire after World War I , the five provinces that constitute modern Lebanon came under the French Mandate of Lebanon . The French expanded the borders of the Mount Lebanon Governorate , which was mostly populated by Maronites and Druze , to include more Muslims . Lebanon gained independence in 1943 , establishing confessionalism , a unique , Consociationalism-type of political system with a power-sharing mechanism based on religious communities . Bechara El Khoury , President of Lebanon during the independence , Riad El-Solh , first Lebanese prime minister and Emir Majid Arslan II , first Lebanese minister of defence , are considered the founders of the modern Republic of Lebanon and are national heroes for having led the country 's independence . Foreign troops withdrew completely from Lebanon on 31 December 1946 . Lebanon has been a member of the Organisation internationale de la francophonie since 1973 .   Despite its small size , the country has developed a well-known culture and has been highly influential in the Arab world . Before the Lebanese Civil War ( 1975 -- 1990 ) , the country experienced a period of relative calm and renowned prosperity , driven by tourism , agriculture , commerce , and banking . Because of its financial power and diversity in its heyday , Lebanon was referred to as the `` Switzerland of the East '' during the 1960s , and its capital , Beirut , attracted so many tourists that it was known as `` the Paris of the Middle East '' . At the end of the war , there were extensive efforts to revive the economy and rebuild national infrastructure . In spite of these troubles , Lebanon has the highest Human Development Index and GDP per capita in the Arab world , to the exclusion of the oil-rich economies of the Persian Gulf .


Neymar Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior ( -LSB- nejˈmaʁ dɐ ˈsiwvɐ ˈsɐ̃tus ˈʒũɲoʁ -RSB- ; born 5 February 1992 ) , commonly known as Neymar or Neymar Jr. , is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Spanish club FC Barcelona and the Brazil national team .   Neymar came into prominence at an early age at Santos , where he made his professional debut aged 17 . He helped the club win two successive Campeonato Paulista championships , a Copa do Brasil , and the 2011 Copa Libertadores , Santos ' first continental title since 1963 . Neymar was twice named the South American Footballer of the Year , in 2011 and 2012 , before relocating to Europe to join Barcelona . As part of Barça 's attacking trio with Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez , he won the continental treble of La Liga , the Copa del Rey , and the UEFA Champions League in the 2014 -- 15 season , followed the next year by the domestic double . He came third for the FIFA Ballon d'Or in 2015 .   With 52 goals in 77 matches for Brazil since debuting at age 18 , Neymar is the fourth-highest goalscorer for his national team . He was a key player in Brazil 's victories at the 2011 South American Youth Championship , which he finished as the leading goalscorer , and the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup , where he won the Golden Ball as player of the tournament . His participation in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2015 Copa América was cut short by injury and a suspension respectively , but the next year he captained Brazil to their first Olympic gold medal in men 's football at the 2016 Summer Olympics .   Known for his dribbling , finishing , and ability with both feet , Neymar has earned comparisons to former Brazil and Santos forward Pelé . Off the pitch , he ranks among the world 's most prominent sportsmen ; SportsPro named him the most marketable athlete in the world in 2012 and 2013 , and ESPN cited him as the world 's fourth-most famous athlete in 2016 .


Greyson Chance Greyson Michael Chance ( born August 16 , 1997 ) is an American singer , songwriter , and pianist . His April 2010 performance of Lady Gaga 's `` Paparazzi '' at a sixth-grade music festival went viral on YouTube , gaining widespread attention and over 59 million views as of May 2017 , as well as an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show shortly afterward . Two of his original compositions , `` Stars '' and `` Broken Hearts '' , gained over six and eight million views respectively on his YouTube channel . His debut single , `` Waiting Outside the Lines '' , was released in October 2010 . Chance 's debut album , Hold On 'Til the Night , was released on August 2 , 2011 .   Chance released his second EP , Somewhere Over My Head , on May 13 , 2016 . The lead single , `` Afterlife '' , was released in October 2015 , followed by `` Hit and Run '' and `` Back On the Wall '' in February and April 2016 respectively .


Steve Mouzakis played at least one character.

Steve Mouzakis Steve Mouzakis is an Australian film , television and theatre actor .   He is known for his role in the Spike Jonze film Where the Wild Things Are , and as Steven Ray in The Suicide Theory . He has performed in television series such as Rolf in Very Small Business , Andrew Petrious in The Slap , Chris Baros in Killing Time , Theo Kallergis in Blue Heelers and Paolo in The Secret Life of Us . Other feature film credits include Darkness Falls ( Sony Pictures ) , Big Mamma 's Boy , and I , Frankenstein ( Lionsgate ) .   Mouzakis will play Van Gogh as a series regular in the 2017 comeback of the FOX television series Prison Break season 5 .


The 2016 Summer Olympics began in Brazil.

2016 Summer Olympics The 2016 Summer Olympics ( Jogos Olímpicos de Verão de 2016 ) , officially known as the Games of the XXXI Olympiad and commonly known as Rio 2016 , was a major international multi-sport event held in Rio de Janeiro , Brazil , from 5 August to 21 August 2016 .   More than 11,000 athletes from 205 National Olympic Committees , including first time entrants Kosovo , South Sudan , and the Refugee Olympic Team , took part . With 306 sets of medals , the games featured 28 Olympic sports , including rugby sevens and golf , which were added to the Olympic program in 2009 . These sporting events took place at 33 venues in the host city , and at five in São Paulo , Belo Horizonte , Salvador , Brasília , and Manaus .   These were the first Summer Olympic Games under the International Olympic Committee ( IOC ) presidency of Thomas Bach . The host city Rio de Janeiro was announced at the 121st IOC Session in Copenhagen , Denmark , on 2 October 2009 . Rio became the first South American city to host the Summer Olympics . These were the first games to be held in a Portuguese-speaking country , the first to be held entirely in the host country 's winter , the first since 1968 to be held in Latin America , and the first since 2000 to be held in the Southern Hemisphere .   The lead-up to these Games was marked by controversies , including the instability of the country 's federal government ; the countries ' problems with inequality ; health and safety concerns surrounding the Zika virus and significant pollution in the Guanabara Bay ; and a doping scandal involving Russia , which affected the participation of its athletes in the Games .   The United States topped the medal table for the fifth time in the past six Summer Olympics , winning the most golds ( 46 ) and most medals overall ( 121 ) , as well as its 1,000 th Olympic gold medal overall . Great Britain finished second and became the first country in the history of the modern Olympics to increase its tally of medals in the subsequent games after being the host nation . China finished third . Host country Brazil won seven gold medals , its most at any single Summer Olympics , finishing in thirteenth place . Bahrain , Fiji , Jordan , Kosovo , Puerto Rico , Singapore , Tajikistan , Ivory Coast and Vietnam each won their first gold medals , as did the group of Independent Olympic Athletes ( from Kuwait ) .


Kangana Ranaut trained under an Indian theatre director.

Kangana Ranaut Kangana Ranaut ( -LSB- kəŋɡənaː raːɳoːʈʰ -RSB- ; born 23 March 1986 ) is an Indian film actress . She has established a career in Bollywood and is one of the highest-paid actresses in India . Ranaut is particularly known in the media for expressing her honest opinions in public and is frequently credited as one of the most fashionable Indian celebrities . She is the recipient of several awards , including three National Film Awards and Filmfare Awards in four categories .   Born in Bhambla , a small town in Himachal Pradesh , Ranaut initially aspired to become a doctor at the insistence of her parents . Determined to build her own career path , she relocated to Delhi at age sixteen , where she briefly became a model . After training under the theatre director Arvind Gaur , Ranaut made her feature film debut in the 2006 thriller Gangster , for which she was awarded the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut . She received praise for portraying emotionally intense characters in the dramas Woh Lamhe ( 2006 ) , Life in a. . . Metro ( 2007 ) and Fashion ( 2008 ) . For the last of these , she won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress and a Filmfare Award in the same category .   Ranaut featured in the commercially successful films Raaz : The Mystery Continues ( 2009 ) and Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai ( 2010 ) , though she was criticised for being typecast in neurotic roles . A comic role opposite R. Madhavan in the 2011 box office hit Tanu Weds Manu was well-received , though this was followed by a series of brief , glamorous roles in films that failed to propel her career forward . She then played a mutant opposite Hrithik Roshan in the science fiction film Krrish 3 ( 2013 ) , one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films , and won the Filmfare and National Film Award for Best Actress for her performance in the comedy-drama Queen ( 2014 ) . In 2015 , Ranaut portrayed a dual role in Tanu Weds Manu Returns , the most successful Bollywood film featuring a female protagonist , for which she won a Filmfare Critics Award and a second consecutive National Film Award for Best Actress .


Arvind Gaur Arvind Gaur , Indian theatre director , is known for his work in innovative , socially and politically relevant theatre in India . Gaur 's plays are contemporary and thought-provoking , connecting intimate personal spheres of existence to larger social political issues . His work deals with Internet censorship , communalism , caste issues , feudalism , domestic violence , crimes of state , politics of power , violence , injustice , social discrimination , marginalisation , and racism . Arvind is the leader of Asmita , Delhi 's `` most prolific theatre group '' , and is an actor trainer , social activist , street theatre worker and story teller .   Gaur was the recipient of a research fellowship awarded by the Ministry of Human Resource Development ( India ) ( 1997 -- 98 ) . He was on the guest faculty of Delhi University for Theatre in education program for three years . He has conducted many theatre workshops and performed in colleges , institutions , universities and schools in India and abroad .   He has organized theatre workshops for children in schools and slums as well as street theatre performances on socio-political issues . He has directed more than 60 stage plays over two decades .


The Twelfth Doctor is the antagonist in Doctor Who.

Twelfth Doctor The Twelfth Doctor is an incarnation of the Doctor , the protagonist of the BBC science fiction television programme Doctor Who . He is portrayed by Scottish actor Peter Capaldi . Within the series ' narrative , the Doctor is a time travelling , humanoid alien from a race known as the Time Lords . When the Doctor is critically injured , he can regenerate his body , and in doing so gain a new physical appearance , and with it a distinct new personality ; this plot mechanism has allowed the Doctor to be portrayed by a series of actors over the decades since the programme 's inception in 1963 . Capaldi 's portrayal of the Doctor is a spiky , brusque , contemplative , and pragmatic character who conceals his emotions in the course of making tough and sometimes ruthless decisions .   Capaldi made his first , very brief appearance as the Doctor in the show 's fiftieth anniversary special `` The Day of the Doctor '' ( 2013 ) , as one of the thirteen incarnations of the Doctor who are summoned to save Gallifrey from destruction . Capaldi 's first full appearance as the Doctor was at the end of the 2013 Christmas special `` The Time of the Doctor '' . He is accompanied in the eighth and ninth series by companion Clara Oswald ( Jenna Coleman ) . He also appeared in `` For Tonight We Might Die '' , the first episode of the 2016 spin-off series Class . In the tenth series of Doctor Who , he is accompanied by two new companions : Nardole ( Matt Lucas ) and Bill Potts ( Pearl Mackie ) . On 30 January 2017 , Capaldi announced he would be leaving the programme , with the 2017 Christmas episode being his last .


George Martin Sir George Henry Martin ( 3 January 19268 March 2016 ) was an English record producer , arranger , composer , conductor , audio engineer , and musician . He was referred to as the `` Fifth Beatle '' , including by Paul McCartney , in reference to his extensive involvement on each of the Beatles ' original albums . Martin produced 30 number-one hit singles in the United Kingdom and 23 number-one hits in the United States .   Martin produced comedy and novelty records in the early 1950s , working with Peter Sellers , Spike Milligan , and Bernard Cribbins , among others . His career spanned more than six decades of work in music , film , television and live performance . He held a number of senior executive roles at media companies and contributed to a wide range of charitable causes , including his work for The Prince 's Trust and the Caribbean island of Montserrat . In recognition of his services to the music industry and popular culture , he was made a Knight Bachelor in 1996 .


Kazakhstan is in Central Asia and Western Europe.

Kazakhstan Kazakhstan ( -LSB- USkæzækˈstæn , _ ˌkɑːzɑːkˈstɑːn -RSB- , -LSB- ˌkæzəkˈstɑːn , _ - ˈstæn -RSB- Қазақстан , tr . Qazaqstan , -LSB- qɑzɑqˈstɑn -RSB- ; Казахстан , tr . Kazakhstan ) , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan ( Қазақстан Республикасы , tr . Qazaqstan Respwblïkası ; Республика Казахстан , tr . Respublika Kazakhstan ) , is a transcontinental country in northern Central Asia and Eastern Europe . Kazakhstan is the world 's largest landlocked country , and the ninth largest in the world , with an area of 2,724,900 km ² . Kazakhstan is the dominant nation of Central Asia economically , generating 60 % of the region 's GDP , primarily through its oil/gas industry . It also has vast mineral resources .   Kazakhstan is officially a democratic , secular , unitary , constitutional republic with a diverse cultural heritage . Kazakhstan shares borders with Russia , China , Kyrgyzstan , Uzbekistan , and Turkmenistan , and also adjoins a large part of the Caspian Sea . The terrain of Kazakhstan includes flatlands , steppe , taiga , rock canyons , hills , deltas , snow-capped mountains , and deserts . Kazakhstan has an estimated 18 million people , Given its large land area , its population density is among the lowest , at less than 6 people per square kilometre ( 15 people per sq. mi . ) . The capital is Astana , where it was moved in 1997 from Almaty , the country 's largest city .   The territory of Kazakhstan has historically been inhabited by nomadic tribes . This changed in the 13th century , when Genghis Khan occupied the country as part of the Mongolian Empire . Following internal struggles among the conquerors , power eventually reverted to the nomads . By the 16th century , the Kazakh emerged as a distinct group , divided into three jüz ( ancestor branches occupying specific territories ) . The Russians began advancing into the Kazakh steppe in the 18th century , and by the mid-19th century , they nominally ruled all of Kazakhstan as part of the Russian Empire . Following the 1917 Russian Revolution , and subsequent civil war , the territory of Kazakhstan was reorganised several times . In 1936 , it was made the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic , part of the Soviet Union .   Kazakhstan was the last of the Soviet republics to declare independence during the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 . The current President , Nursultan Nazarbayev , has been leader of the country since then , and is characterised as authoritarian , with a government history of human rights abuses and suppression of political opposition . Kazakhstan has worked to develop its economy , especially its dominant hydrocarbon industry . Human Rights Watch says that `` Kazakhstan heavily restricts freedom of assembly , speech , and religion , '' and other human rights organisations regularly describe Kazakhstan 's human rights situation as poor .   Kazakhstan 's 131 ethnicities include Kazakhs ( 63 % of the population ) , Russians , Uzbeks , Ukrainians , Germans , Tatars , and Uyghurs . Islam is the religion of about 70 % of the population , with Christianity practised by 26 % ; Kazakhstan officially allows freedom of religion , but religious leaders who oppose the government are suppressed . The Kazakh language is the state language , and Russian has equal official status for all levels of administrative and institutional purposes .


Samantha Shelton performed with Zooey Deschanel.

Zooey Deschanel Zooey Claire Deschanel ( -LSB- ˈzoʊi_ˌdeɪʃəˈnɛl -RSB- born January 17 , 1980 ) is an American actress and singer-songwriter . She made her film debut in Mumford ( 1999 ) , followed by her supporting role in Cameron Crowe 's semi-autobiographical picture Almost Famous ( 2000 ) . Deschanel soon became known for her deadpan comedy roles in films such as The Good Girl ( 2002 ) , The New Guy ( 2002 ) , Elf ( 2003 ) , The Hitchhiker 's Guide to the Galaxy ( 2005 ) , Failure to Launch ( 2006 ) , Yes Man ( 2008 ) , and ( 500 ) Days of Summer ( 2009 ) . She also did dramatic turns in the films Manic ( 2001 ) , All the Real Girls ( 2003 ) , Winter Passing ( 2005 ) and Bridge to Terabithia ( 2007 ) . Since 2011 , she has played Jessica Day on the Fox sitcom New Girl , for which she has received an Emmy Award nomination and three Golden Globe Award nominations .   For a few years starting in 2001 , Deschanel performed in the jazz cabaret act If All the Stars Were Pretty Babies with fellow actress Samantha Shelton . Besides singing , she plays keyboards , percussion , banjo , and ukulele . In 2006 , Deschanel teamed up with M. Ward to release a debut album , Volume One , under the name She & Him in March 2008 . They released a follow-up album , Volume Two , in March 2010 , with their Christmas album A Very She & Him Christmas being released in 2011 , Volume 3 in 2013 , and Classics in 2014 . She also received Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media nomination for her song `` So Long '' , which featured in the Winnie the Pooh soundtrack .   Deschanel is also a co-founder of the female-focused website HelloGiggles , which was acquired by Time , Inc. in 2015 .


Whiplash (2014 film) Whiplash is a 2014 American drama film written and directed by Damien Chazelle , depicting the relationship between an ambitious jazz student ( Miles Teller ) and an aggressive instructor ( J. K. Simmons ) . Paul Reiser co-stars as the student 's father . The film opened in limited release domestically in the US and Canada on October 10 , 2014 , gradually expanding to over 500 screens and finally closing after 24 weeks on March 26 , 2015 . Over this time the film grossed $ 49 million , against a production budget of $ 3.3 million .   Whiplash premiered in competition in the US Dramatic Category at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 16 , 2014 , as the festival 's opening film . Sony Pictures Worldwide acquired the international distribution rights . At the 87th Academy Awards , Whiplash won Best Film Editing , Best Sound Mixing , and Best Supporting Actor for Simmons , and was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture .


Miles Teller Miles Alexander Teller ( born February 20 , 1987 ) is an American actor . Born in Downingtown , Pennsylvania and an alumnus of NYU 's Tisch School of Arts , he appeared in several short films and television movies before making his feature film debut in Rabbit Hole ( 2010 ) . He had supporting roles in Footloose ( 2011 ) and Project X ( 2012 ) , before garnering critical acclaim for his leading performance as Sutter Keely in The Spectacular Now ( 2013 ) , for which he was awarded the Sundance Film Festival Special Jury Prize for Dramatic Acting and his role as Andrew Neiman in Whiplash , for which he was nominated for the Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Actor , the Satellite Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture , and the BAFTA Rising Star Award .


The Spectacular Now The Spectacular Now is a 2013 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by James Ponsoldt , written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber and starring Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley . The film is based on the novel of the same name by Tim Tharp . The film premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival , where it garnered critical acclaim . It was released in the United States on August 2 , 2013 , and grossed $ 6 million worldwide .


Audra McDonald appeared in a staged production of the musical Ragtime.

Ragtime (musical) Ragtime is a musical with a book by Terrence McNally , lyrics by Lynn Ahrens , and music by Stephen Flaherty . The music includes marches , cakewalks , gospel and ragtime .   Based on the 1975 novel by E. L. Doctorow , Ragtime '' tells the story of three groups in the United States in the early 20th century : African Americans , represented by Coalhouse Walker Jr. , a Harlem musician ; upper-class suburbanites , represented by Mother , the matriarch of a white upper-class family in New Rochelle , New York ; and Eastern European immigrants , represented by Tateh , a Jewish immigrant from Latvia .   Historical figures including Harry Houdini , Evelyn Nesbit , Booker T. Washington , J. P. Morgan , Henry Ford , Stanford White , Harry Kendall Thaw , Admiral Peary , Matthew Henson , and Emma Goldman are represented in the stories .


Audra McDonald Audra Ann McDonald ( born July 3 , 1970 ) is an American actress and singer . She has appeared on the stage in both musicals and dramas , such as Ragtime , A Raisin in the Sun , and Porgy and Bess . With her full lyric soprano voice , she maintains an active concert and recording career , performing song cycles and operas as well as performing in concert throughout the U.S. . She has won six Tony Awards , more performance wins than any other actor , and is the only person to win all four acting categories.Best Actress in a Play , Best Actress in a Musical , Best Featured Actress in a Play , and Best Featured Actress in a Musical . She starred as Dr. Naomi Bennett on the ABC television drama Private Practice .


Fiji Fiji ( -LSB- ˈfiːdʒiː -RSB- ) ( Viti -LSB- ˈβitʃi -RSB- फ़िजी ) , officially the Republic of Fiji ( Matanitu Tugalala o Viti फ़िजी गणराज्य ) , is an island country in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about 1100 nmi northeast of New Zealand 's North Island . Its closest neighbours are Vanuatu to the west , New Caledonia to the southwest , New Zealand 's Kermadec Islands to the southeast , Tonga to the east , the Samoas and France 's Wallis and Futuna to the northeast , and Tuvalu to the north .   Fiji is an archipelago of more than 330 islands , of which 110 are permanently inhabited , and more than 500 islets , amounting to a total land area of about 18300 km2 . The farthest island is Ono-i-Lau . The two major islands , Viti Levu and Vanua Levu , account for 87 % of the population of almost 860,000 . The capital , Suva on Viti Levu , serves as Fiji 's principal cruise port . About three-quarters of Fijians live on Viti Levu 's coasts , either in Suva or in smaller urban centres like Nadi ( tourism ) or Lautoka ( sugar cane industry ) . Viti Levu 's interior is sparsely inhabited due to its terrain .   Fiji has one of the most developed economies in the Pacific due to an abundance of forest , mineral , and fish resources . Today , the main sources of foreign exchange are its tourist industry and sugar exports . The country 's currency is the Fijian dollar . Fiji 's local government , in the form of city and town councils , is supervised by the Ministry of Local Government and Urban Development .   The majority of Fiji 's islands were formed through volcanic activity starting around 150 million years ago . Today , some geothermal activity still occurs on the islands of Vanua Levu and Taveuni . Fiji has been inhabited since the second millennium BC , and was settled first by Austronesians and later by Melanesians , with some Polynesian influences . Europeans visited Fiji from the 17th century , and , after a brief period as an independent kingdom , the British established the Colony of Fiji in 1874 . Fiji was a Crown colony until 1970 , when it gained independence as a Commonwealth realm . A republic was declared in 1987 , following a series of coups d'état .   In a coup in 2006 , Commodore Frank Bainimarama seized power . When the High Court ruled in 2009 that the military leadership was unlawful , President Ratu Josefa Iloilo , whom the military had retained as the nominal Head of State , formally abrogated the Constitution and reappointed Bainimarama . Later in 2009 , Iloilo was replaced as President by Ratu Epeli Nailatikau . After years of delays , a democratic election was held on 17 September 2014 . Bainimarama 's FijiFirst party won with 59.2 % of the vote , and the election was deemed credible by international observers .


Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan ( -LSB- ˈrɒnəld_ˈwɪlsən_ˈreɪɡən -RSB- ) ( February 6 , 1911 -- June 5 , 2004 ) was an American politician and actor who served as the 40th President of the United States from 1981 to 1989 . Before his presidency , he was the 33rd Governor of California , from 1967 to 1975 , after a career as a Hollywood actor and union leader .   Raised in a poor family in small towns of northern Illinois , Reagan graduated from Eureka College in 1932 and worked as a sports announcer on several regional radio stations . After moving to Hollywood in 1937 , he became an actor and starred in a few major productions . Reagan was twice elected President of the Screen Actors Guild , the labor union for actors , where he worked to root out Communist influence . In the 1950s , he moved into television and was a motivational speaker at General Electric factories . Having been a lifelong Democrat , his views changed . He became a conservative and in 1962 switched to the Republican Party . In 1964 , Reagan 's speech , `` A Time for Choosing '' , in support of Barry Goldwater 's foundering presidential campaign , earned him national attention as a new conservative spokesman . Building a network of supporters , he was elected Governor of California in 1966 . As governor , Reagan raised taxes , turned a state budget deficit to a surplus , challenged the protesters at the University of California , ordered National Guard troops in during a period of protest movements in 1969 , and was re-elected in 1970 . He twice ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for the U.S. presidency in 1968 and 1976 ; four years later , he easily won the nomination outright , becoming the oldest elected U.S. president up to that time , defeating incumbent Jimmy Carter in 1980 .   Entering the presidency in 1981 , Reagan implemented sweeping new political and economic initiatives . His supply-side economic policies , dubbed `` Reaganomics '' , advocated tax rate reduction to spur economic growth , control of the money supply to curb inflation , economic deregulation , and reduction in government spending . In his first term he survived an assassination attempt , spurred the War on Drugs , and fought public sector labor . Over his two terms , the economy saw a reduction of inflation from 12.5 % to 4.4 % , and an average annual growth of real GDP of 3.4 ; while Reagan did enact cuts in domestic discretionary spending , tax cuts and increased military spending contributed to increased federal outlays overall , even after adjustment for inflation . During his re-election bid , Reagan campaigned on the notion that it was `` Morning in America '' , winning a landslide in 1984 with the largest electoral college victory in American history . Foreign affairs dominated his second term , including ending of the Cold War , the bombing of Libya , and the Iran -- Contra affair . Publicly describing the Soviet Union as an `` evil empire '' , and during his famous speech at the Brandenburg Gate , President Reagan challenged Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev to `` tear down this wall ! '' . He transitioned Cold War policy from détente to rollback , by escalating an arms race with the USSR while engaging in talks with Gorbachev , which culminated in the INF Treaty , shrinking both countries ' nuclear arsenals . Reagan 's presidency came during the decline of the Soviet Union and just ten months after the end of his term , the Berlin Wall fell , and on December 26 , 1991 , nearly three years after he left office , the Soviet Union collapsed .   Leaving office in 1989 , Reagan held an approval rating of sixty-eight percent , matching those of Franklin D. Roosevelt , and later Bill Clinton , as the highest ratings for departing presidents in the modern era . He was the first president since Dwight D. Eisenhower to serve two full terms , after a succession of five prior presidents failed to do so . While having planned an active post-presidency , in 1994 Reagan disclosed his diagnosis with Alzheimer 's disease earlier that year , appearing publicly for the last time at the funeral of Richard Nixon ; he died ten years later in 2004 at the age of 93 ; Reagan had the second-longest life out of all the presidents ; the current longest lifespan of a president is held by Gerald Ford , who died two years after Reagan . An icon among Republicans , he is viewed favorably in historian rankings of U.S. presidents , and his tenure constituted a realignment toward conservative policies in the U.S.


Lil Wayne Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. ( born September 27 , 1982 ) , known professionally as Lil Wayne , is an American hip hop recording artist . In 1991 , at the age of nine , Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label , and half of the duo The B.G. ` z , alongside fellow New Orleans-based rapper Lil ' Doogie . In 1996 , Lil Wayne joined the southern hip hop group Hot Boys , with his Cash Money label-mates Juvenile , Young Turk and Lil ' Doogie ( who now goes by B.G. ) . Hot Boys debuted with Get It How U Live ! , that same year . Most of the group 's success came with their platinum-selling album Guerrilla Warfare ( 1999 ) and the 1999 single `` Bling Bling '' . Along with being the flagship artist of Cash Money Records , Lil Wayne is also the Chief Executive Officer ( CEO ) of his own label imprint , Young Money Entertainment , which he founded in 2005 .   Lil Wayne 's solo debut album Tha Block Is Hot ( 1999 ) , was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America ( RIAA ) . His subsequent albums , Lights Out ( 2000 ) and 500 Degreez ( 2002 ) , went on to be certified gold . Wayne reached higher popularity with his fourth album Tha Carter ( 2004 ) , which was led by the single `` Go D.J. '' and his appearance on Destiny 's Child 's Top 10 single `` Soldier '' , that same year . The album was followed by Tha Carter II ( 2005 ) , as well as several mixtapes and collaborations throughout 2006 and 2007 . Wayne gained more prominence with his sixth album Tha Carter III ( 2008 ) , which became his most successful album to date , with first-week sales of over one million copies in the United States . The album won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album and includes the hit singles `` Lollipop '' , `` A Milli '' and `` Got Money '' .   Following the success of Tha Carter III , Wayne decided to record a rock-esque album titled Rebirth . The album , released in 2010 , was certified gold by the RIAA , despite a generally negative critical response . In March 2010 , Lil Wayne began serving an 8-month jail sentence in New York after being convicted of criminal possession of a weapon stemming from an incident in July 2007 . Wayne 's eighth album I Am Not a Human Being ( 2010 ) , was released during his incarceration . His 2011 album and first following his release , Tha Carter IV , sold 964,000 copies in its first week of availability in the United States . It includes the singles `` 6 Foot 7 Foot '' , `` How to Love '' and `` She Will '' . On September 27 , 2012 , Lil Wayne passed Elvis Presley as the male with the most entries on the Billboard Hot 100 chart , with 109 songs . The record has since been passed by other artists . Lil Wayne 's thirteenth studio album , Tha Carter V , has been delayed multiple times and has no scheduled release date . Lil Wayne has sold over 100 million records worldwide , including sold more than 15 million albums and 37 million digital tracks in United States , making him one of the best-selling artists of all time .


Crown colony A crown colony , also known in the 17th century as royal colony and since 2002 known as a British Overseas Territory , was a type of colonial administration of the overseas territories of the British Empire .   Crown , or royal , colonies were ruled by a governor appointed by the monarch . By the middle of the 19th century , the sovereign appointed royal governors on the advice of the Secretary of State for the Colonies . Under the name of `` royal colony '' , the first of what would later become known as Crown colonies was the English Colony of Virginia in the present-day United States , after the Crown , in 1624 , revoked the royal charter it had granted to the Virginia Company , taking over direct administration .   Until the mid-19th century , the term `` crown colony '' was primarily used to refer to those colonies that had been acquired through wars , such as Trinidad and Tobago and British Guiana , but after that time it was more broadly applied to any colony other than the Presidencies and provinces of British India and the colonies of settlement , such as The Canadas , Newfoundland , British Columbia , New South Wales , Queensland , South Australia , Tasmania , Victoria , Western Australia , and New Zealand , later to become the Dominions .   The term continued to be used until 1981 , when the British Nationality Act 1981 reclassified the remaining British colonies as `` British Dependent Territories '' . By this time , the term `` crown colony '' referred specifically to those colonies ruled directly by a Governor appointed by the Monarch ( as was the case in Hong Kong before the 1997 handover to the People 's Republic of China ) , with or without the assistance of some form of council appointed by the Governor . The term was not used to apply to those colonies which were substantially autonomous , usually described as `` self-governed colonies '' ( at that time , primarily Bermuda , which had become a crown colony , according to an older definition of the term , when the Crown revoked the Royal Charter it had given to the Somers Isles Company , successor to the Virginia Company , in 1684 . This meant that the Crown , from then onwards , appointed the Governor of Bermuda , previously appointed by the Company . Bermuda had already been internally self-governed for sixty-four years , however , and by the Twentieth Century the definition of `` crown colony '' had narrowed to include only those territories without internal self-government . The House of Assembly of Bermuda had existed continuously since its first session in 1620 , including through the Commonwealth of England , when for some years the Mother Country itself had no parliament . From 2002 , all remaining British colonies , whether Crown Colonies or self-governed , have been known as British Overseas Territories .


Macbeth is a film adaptation of a Shakespearean comedy.

Macbeth (1971 film) Macbeth ( or The Tragedy of Macbeth ) is a 1971 British-American historical drama film directed by Roman Polanski and co-written by Polanski and Kenneth Tynan . A film adaptation of William Shakespeare 's tragedy of the same name , it retells the story of the Highland lord who becomes King of Scotland through treachery and murder . The film stars Jon Finch as the title character and Francesca Annis as Lady Macbeth , noted for their relative youth as actors . Themes of historic recurrence , greater pessimism and internal ugliness in physically beautiful characters are added to Shakespeare 's story of moral decline , which is presented in a more realistic style .   The production , funded by Playboy Enterprises , was troubled by poor weather around the British Isles , and the film was a box office bomb . Polanski 's Macbeth was screened out of competition at the 1972 Cannes Film Festival . It was somewhat controversial for its depictions of graphic violence and nudity , but has also received positive attention , and was named Best Film by the National Board of Review .


Macbeth Macbeth ( -LSB- məkˈbɛθ -RSB- full title The Tragedy of Macbeth ) is a tragedy by William Shakespeare ; it is thought to have been first performed in 1606 . It dramatises the damaging physical and psychological effects of political ambition on those who seek power for its own sake . Of all the plays that Shakespeare wrote during the reign of James I , who was patron of Shakespeare 's acting company , Macbeth most clearly reflects the playwright 's relationship with his sovereign . It was first published in the Folio of 1623 , possibly from a prompt book , and is Shakespeare 's shortest tragedy .   A brave Scottish general named Macbeth receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland . Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife , Macbeth murders King Duncan and takes the Scottish throne for himself . He is then wracked with guilt and paranoia . Forced to commit more and more murders to protect himself from enmity and suspicion , he soon becomes a tyrannical ruler . The bloodbath and consequent civil war swiftly take Macbeth and Lady Macbeth into the realms of madness and death .   Shakespeare 's source for the story is the account of Macbeth , King of Scotland ; Macduff ; and Duncan in Holinshed 's Chronicles ( 1587 ) , a history of England , Scotland , and Ireland familiar to Shakespeare and his contemporaries , although the events in the play differ extensively from the history of the real Macbeth . The events of the tragedy are usually associated with the execution of Henry Garnet for complicity in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 .   In the backstage world of theatre , some believe that the play is cursed , and will not mention its title aloud , referring to it instead as `` The Scottish Play '' . Over the course of many centuries , the play has attracted some of the most renowned actors to the roles of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth . It has been adapted to film , television , opera , novels , comics , and other media .


Kaminey is the winner of numerous awards.

Kaminey Kaminey ( Rascal ) is a 2009 Indian caper thriller film directed by Vishal Bhardwaj and featuring Shahid Kapoor , Priyanka Chopra and Amol Gupte in the lead roles . Set against the backdrop of the Mumbai underworld , Kaminey follows a rivalry between a pair of twins , one with a lisp and the other with a stutter , over the course of a single day .   Bhardwaj co-wrote the screenplay with Sabrina Dhawan , Abhishek Chaubey , and Supratik Sen. Bhardwaj bought the original script for from Kenyan writer Cajetan Boywhom he had mentored at a scriptwriting workshop in Uganda . Kaminey was released on 14 August 2009 and became a box-office success worldwide , grossing over against a budget of . The film 's soundtrack album also became a commercial success , with the song `` Dhan Te Nan '' topping the charts on various platforms .   Kaminey received widespread critical acclaim , with several critics and media publications placing it at number one on their listings of `` Best film of the year '' . Since its release , the film has attained cult status . It received several awards and nominations at ceremonies across India . At the 55th Filmfare Awards , it received ten nominations , including Best Film , Best Director , Best Actor , Best Actress , and Best Supporting Actor ; it won the award for Best Special Effects . At the 57th National Film Awards , Kaminey won two awards -- Best Audiography for Subash Sahoo and Special Jury Award for its editing by A. Sreekar Prasad .


Audrey Horne was presented in the pilot.

Audrey Horne Audrey Horne is a fictional character from the ABC television series Twin Peaks , played by Sherilyn Fenn . The character was created by David Lynch . She was introduced in the pilot . The daughter of Ben ( Richard Beymer ) and Sylvia Horne , sister of Johnny Horne ( Robert Bauer ) and half-sister of Donna Hayward ( Lara Flynn Boyle ) , her storylines focused on her infatuation with the series protagonist Dale Cooper ( Kyle MacLachlan ) , infiltrating the brothel/casino One Eyed Jacks and becoming an activist through civil disobedience .


Kangana Ranaut's feature film debut was in Chinese cinema.

Gangster (2006 film) Gangster is a 2006 Indian romantic crime film that premiered on 28 April . It stars Shiney Ahuja , Emraan Hashmi and Kangana Ranaut . The plot is that of a bar girl who falls in love with two people , one a layman and the other a gangster . The music is composed by Pritam . The film was rumoured to be based on the life of mobster Abu Salem and former actress Monica Bedi , but the director Anurag Basu said that it is not based upon any real characters or incidents . Gangster was a hit at the box office . The movie is debut of actress Kangana Ranaut .


Kangana Ranaut Kangana Ranaut ( -LSB- kəŋɡənaː raːɳoːʈʰ -RSB- ; born 23 March 1986 ) is an Indian film actress . She has established a career in Bollywood and is one of the highest-paid actresses in India . Ranaut is particularly known in the media for expressing her honest opinions in public and is frequently credited as one of the most fashionable Indian celebrities . She is the recipient of several awards , including three National Film Awards and Filmfare Awards in four categories .   Born in Bhambla , a small town in Himachal Pradesh , Ranaut initially aspired to become a doctor at the insistence of her parents . Determined to build her own career path , she relocated to Delhi at age sixteen , where she briefly became a model . After training under the theatre director Arvind Gaur , Ranaut made her feature film debut in the 2006 thriller Gangster , for which she was awarded the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut . She received praise for portraying emotionally intense characters in the dramas Woh Lamhe ( 2006 ) , Life in a. . . Metro ( 2007 ) and Fashion ( 2008 ) . For the last of these , she won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress and a Filmfare Award in the same category .   Ranaut featured in the commercially successful films Raaz : The Mystery Continues ( 2009 ) and Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai ( 2010 ) , though she was criticised for being typecast in neurotic roles . A comic role opposite R. Madhavan in the 2011 box office hit Tanu Weds Manu was well-received , though this was followed by a series of brief , glamorous roles in films that failed to propel her career forward . She then played a mutant opposite Hrithik Roshan in the science fiction film Krrish 3 ( 2013 ) , one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films , and won the Filmfare and National Film Award for Best Actress for her performance in the comedy-drama Queen ( 2014 ) . In 2015 , Ranaut portrayed a dual role in Tanu Weds Manu Returns , the most successful Bollywood film featuring a female protagonist , for which she won a Filmfare Critics Award and a second consecutive National Film Award for Best Actress .


The capital of British Columbia is Victoria.

British Columbia British Columbia ( BC ) is the westernmost province of Canada , with a population of more than four million people located between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains .  British Columbia is also a component of the Pacific Northwest and the Cascadia bioregion , along with the U.S. states of Idaho , Oregon , Washington , Alaska , and western Montana .   The first British settlement in the area was Fort Victoria , established in 1843 , which gave rise to the city of Victoria , at first the capital of the separate Colony of Vancouver Island . Subsequently , on the mainland , the Colony of British Columbia ( 1858 -- 66 ) was founded by Richard Clement Moody and the Royal Engineers , Columbia Detachment , in response to the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush . Moody was Chief Commissioner of Lands and Works for the Colony and the first Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia : he was hand-picked by the Colonial Office in London to transform British Columbia into the British Empire 's `` bulwark in the farthest west '' , and `` to found a second England on the shores of the Pacific '' . Moody selected the site for and founded the original capital of British Columbia , New Westminster , established the Cariboo Road and Stanley Park , and designed the first version of the Coat of arms of British Columbia . Port Moody is named after him .   In 1866 , Vancouver Island became part of the colony of British Columbia , and Victoria became the united colony 's capital . In 1871 , British Columbia became the sixth province of Canada . Its Latin motto is Splendor sine occasu ( `` Splendour without Diminishment '' ) .   The capital of British Columbia remains Victoria , the fifteenth-largest metropolitan region in Canada , named for the Queen who created the original European colonies . The largest city is Vancouver , the third-largest metropolitan area in Canada , the largest in Western Canada , and the third-largest in the Pacific Northwest . In October 2013 , British Columbia had an estimated population of 4,606,371 ( about 2.5 million of whom were in Greater Vancouver ) . The province is currently governed by the BC Liberal Party , led by Premier Christy Clark , who became leader as a result of a leadership convention vote on February 26 , 2011 , and who led her party to an election victory on May 14 , 2013 .   British Columbia evolved from British possessions that were established in what is now British Columbia by 1871 . First Nations , the original inhabitants of the land , have a history of at least 10,000 years in the area . Today there are few treaties and the question of Aboriginal Title , long ignored , has become a legal and political question of frequent debate as a result of recent court actions . Notably , the Tsilhqot ` in Nation has established Aboriginal title to a portion of their territory , as a result of the recent Supreme Court of Canada decision ( William -LSB- Tsilhqot ` in Nation -RSB- v. British Columbia ) .   BC 's economy is diverse , with service producing industries accounting for the largest portion of the province 's GDP . It is the endpoint of transcontinental railways , and the site of major Pacific ports that enable international trade . Though less than 5 % of its vast 944735 km2 land is arable , the province is agriculturally rich ( particularly in the Fraser and Okanagan valleys ) , because of milder weather near the coast and in certain sheltered southern valleys . Its climate encourages outdoor recreation and tourism , though its economic mainstay has long been resource extraction , principally logging , farming , and mining . Vancouver , the province 's largest city and metropolitan area , also serves as the headquarters of many western-based natural resource companies . It also benefits from a strong housing market and a per capita income well above the national average . While the coast of British Columbia and certain valleys in the south-central part of the province have mild weather , the majority of its land mass experiences a cold-winter-temperate climate similar to that of the rest of Canada . The Northern Interior region has a subarctic climate with very cold winters . The climate of Vancouver is by far the mildest winter climate of the major Canadian cities , with nighttime January temperatures averaging above the freezing point .


Thomas Pynchon wrote the novel V. in 1995.

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


Arnold Schwarzenegger won the Mr. Universe title.

Arnold Schwarzenegger Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger ( -LSB- ˈʃwɔːrtsənˌɛɡər -RSB- -LSB- ˈaɐ̯nɔlt ˈalɔʏs ˈʃvaɐ̯tsn̩ˌɛɡɐ -RSB- ; born July 30 , 1947 ) is an Austrian-American actor , producer , businessman , investor , author , philanthropist , activist , politician and former professional bodybuilder . He served two terms as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 to 2011 .   Schwarzenegger began weight training at the age of 15 . He won the Mr. Universe title at age 20 and went on to win the Mr. Olympia contest seven times . Schwarzenegger has remained a prominent presence in bodybuilding and has written many books and articles on the sport . He is widely considered to be among the greatest bodybuilders of all time as well as bodybuilding 's biggest icon . Schwarzenegger gained worldwide fame as a Hollywood action film icon . His breakthrough film was the sword-and-sorcery epic Conan the Barbarian in 1982 , a box office hit that resulted in a sequel .   In 1984 , Schwarzenegger appeared in James Cameron 's science-fiction thriller film The Terminator , a critical and commercial success . Schwarzenegger subsequently reprised the Terminator character in the franchise 's later installments : Terminator 2 : Judgment Day ( 1991 ) , Terminator 3 : Rise of the Machines ( 2003 ) , and Terminator Genisys ( 2015 ) . He has appeared in a number of successful films , such as Commando ( 1985 ) , The Running Man ( 1987 ) , Predator ( 1987 ) , Twins ( 1988 ) , Total Recall ( 1990 ) , Kindergarten Cop ( 1990 ) , and True Lies ( 1994 ) . In 2015 , it was announced that Schwarzenegger would replace Donald Trump as the host of The Celebrity Apprentice , though he left after one season due to conflicts caused by Trump 's remarks . Schwarzenegger was nicknamed `` the Austrian Oak '' in his bodybuilding days , `` Arnie '' during his acting career , and `` The Governator '' ( a portmanteau of `` Governor '' and `` The Terminator '' ) during his political career .   As a Republican , Schwarzenegger was first elected on October 7 , 2003 , in a special recall election to replace then-Governor Gray Davis . He was sworn in on November 17 , to serve the remainder of Davis ' term . He was then re-elected on November 7 , 2006 , in the 2006 California gubernatorial election , to serve a full term as governor , defeating Democrat Phil Angelides , who was California State Treasurer at the time . Schwarzenegger was sworn in for his second term on January 5 , 2007 . In 2011 , he completed his second term as governor and returned to acting .


Richard Nixon moved to work for the government.

Richard Nixon Richard Milhous Nixon ( January 9 , 1913 -- April 22 , 1994 ) was an American politician who served as the 37th President of the United States from 1969 until 1974 , when he became the only U.S. president to resign from office . He had previously served as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under the presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower , and prior to that as a U.S. Representative and also Senator from California .   Nixon was born in Yorba Linda , California . After completing his undergraduate studies at Whittier College , he graduated from Duke University School of Law in 1937 and returned to California to practice law . He and his wife Pat moved to Washington in 1942 to work for the federal government . He subsequently served on active duty in the U.S. Navy Reserve during World War II . Nixon was elected to the House of Representatives in 1946 and to the Senate in 1950 . His pursuit of the Hiss Case established his reputation as a leading anti-communist , and elevated him to national prominence . He was the running mate of Dwight D. Eisenhower , the Republican Party presidential nominee in the 1952 election . Nixon served for eight years as vice president -- at 40 , the second-youngest vice president in history . He waged an unsuccessful presidential campaign in 1960 , narrowly losing to John F. Kennedy , and lost a race for Governor of California to Pat Brown in 1962 . In 1968 , he ran for the presidency again and was elected by defeating incumbent Vice President Hubert Humphrey .   Nixon ended American involvement in the war in Vietnam in 1973 and brought the American POWs home , and ended the military draft . Nixon 's visit to the People 's Republic of China in 1972 eventually led to diplomatic relations between the two nations , and he initiated détente and the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty with the Soviet Union the same year . His administration generally transferred power from Washington D.C. to the states . He imposed wage and price controls for a period of ninety days , enforced desegregation of Southern schools and established the Environmental Protection Agency . Nixon also presided over the Apollo 11 moon landing , which signaled the end of the moon race . He was reelected in one of the largest electoral landslides in U.S. history in 1972 , when he defeated George McGovern .   The year 1973 saw an Arab oil embargo , gasoline rationing , and a continuing series of revelations about the Watergate scandal . The scandal escalated , costing Nixon much of his political support , and on August 9 , 1974 , he resigned in the face of almost certain impeachment and removal from office . After his resignation , he was issued a pardon by his successor , Gerald Ford . In retirement , Nixon 's work writing several books and undertaking of many foreign trips helped to rehabilitate his image . He suffered a debilitating stroke on April 18 , 1994 , and died four days later at the age of 81 .


Richard Harris Richard St John Harris ( 1 October 1930 -- 25 October 2002 ) was an Irish actor and singer . He appeared on stage and in many films , appearing as Frank Machin in This Sporting Life , and King Arthur in the 1967 film Camelot and the subsequent 1981 revival of the show . He played an aristocrat and prisoner in A Man Called Horse ( 1970 ) , a gunfighter in Clint Eastwood 's Western film Unforgiven ( 1992 ) , Emperor Marcus Aurelius in Gladiator ( 2000 ) , and Albus Dumbledore in the first two Harry Potter films : the Sorcerer 's Stone ( 2001 ) and the Chamber of Secrets ( 2002 ) . Harris had a top ten hit in the United Kingdom and United States with his 1968 recording of Jimmy Webb 's song `` MacArthur Park '' .


Roger Moore Sir Roger George Moore , ( -LSB- mɔər -RSB- 14 October 1927 -- 23 May 2017 ) was an English actor . He is best known for playing secret agent James Bond in seven feature films between 1973 and 1985 . He also played Simon Templar in the television series The Saint between 1962 and 1969 .   Moore took over the role of Bond from Sean Connery in 1972 , and made his first appearance as 007 in Live and Let Die ( 1973 ) . The longest serving Bond to date , he went on to portray the spy in six more films . Appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 1991 , Moore was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003 for `` services to charity '' . In 2007 he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work on television and in film , aptly located at 7007 Hollywood Boulevard . In 2008 , the French government appointed Moore a Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres .


Lung cancer occurs in 1.8 million people.

Lung cancer Lung cancer , also known as lung carcinoma , is a malignant lung tumor characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung . This growth can spread beyond the lung by the process of metastasis into nearby tissue or other parts of the body . Most cancers that start in the lung , known as primary lung cancers , are carcinomas . The two main types are small-cell lung carcinoma ( SCLC ) and non-small-cell lung carcinoma ( NSCLC ) . The most common symptoms are coughing ( including coughing up blood ) , weight loss , shortness of breath , and chest pains .   The vast majority ( 85 % ) of cases of lung cancer are due to long-term tobacco smoking . About 10 -- 15 % of cases occur in people who have never smoked . These cases are often caused by a combination of genetic factors and exposure to radon gas , asbestos , second-hand smoke , or other forms of air pollution . Lung cancer may be seen on chest radiographs and computed tomography ( CT ) scans . The diagnosis is confirmed by biopsy which is usually performed by bronchoscopy or CT-guidance .   Avoidance of risk factors , including smoking and air pollution , is the primary method of prevention . Treatment and long-term outcomes depend on the type of cancer , the stage ( degree of spread ) , and the person 's overall health . Most cases are not curable . Common treatments include surgery , chemotherapy , and radiotherapy . NSCLC is sometimes treated with surgery , whereas SCLC usually responds better to chemotherapy and radiotherapy .   Worldwide in 2012 , lung cancer occurred in 1.8 million people and resulted in 1.6 million deaths . This makes it the most common cause of cancer-related death in men and second most common in women after breast cancer . The most common age at diagnosis is 70 years . Overall , 17.4 % of people in the United States diagnosed with lung cancer survive five years after the diagnosis , while outcomes on average are worse in the developing world .


Empress Matilda married the future Holy Roman Emperor Henry V.

Empress Matilda Empress Matilda ( c. 7 February 110210 September 1167 ) , also known as the Empress Maude , was the claimant to the English throne during the civil war known as the Anarchy . The daughter of King Henry I of England , she moved to Germany as a child when she married the future Holy Roman Emperor Henry V . She travelled with her husband into Italy in 1116 , was controversially crowned in St. Peter 's Basilica , and acted as the imperial regent in Italy . Matilda and Henry had no children , and when Henry died in 1125 , the crown was claimed by Lothair II , one of his political enemies .   Meanwhile , Matilda 's younger brother , William Adelin , died in the White Ship disaster of 1120 , leaving England facing a potential succession crisis . On Henry V 's death , Matilda was recalled to Normandy by her father , who arranged for her to marry Geoffrey of Anjou to form an alliance to protect his southern borders . Henry I had no further legitimate children and nominated Matilda as his heir , making his court swear an oath of loyalty to her and her successors , but the decision was not popular in the Anglo-Norman court . Henry died in 1135 but Matilda and Geoffrey faced opposition from the Norman barons and were unable to pursue their claims . The throne was instead taken by Matilda 's cousin Stephen of Blois , who enjoyed the backing of the English Church . Stephen took steps to solidify his new regime , but faced threats both from neighbouring powers and from opponents within his kingdom .   In 1139 Matilda crossed to England to take the kingdom by force , supported by her half-brother , Robert of Gloucester , and her uncle , King David I of Scotland , while Geoffrey focused on conquering Normandy . Matilda 's forces captured Stephen at the Battle of Lincoln in 1141 , but the Empress 's attempt to be crowned at Westminster collapsed in the face of bitter opposition from the London crowds . As a result of this retreat , Matilda was never formally declared Queen of England , and was instead titled the Lady of the English . Robert was captured following the Rout of Winchester in 1141 , and Matilda agreed to exchange him for Stephen . Matilda became trapped in Oxford Castle by Stephen 's forces that winter , and was forced to escape across the frozen River Isis at night to avoid capture . The war degenerated into a stalemate , with Matilda controlling much of the south-west of England , and Stephen the south-east and the Midlands . Large parts of the rest of the country were in the hands of local , independent barons .   Matilda returned to Normandy , now in the hands of her husband , in 1148 , leaving her eldest son to continue the campaign in England ; he eventually succeeded to the throne as Henry II in 1154 . She settled her court near Rouen and for the rest of her life concerned herself with the administration of Normandy , acting on Henry 's behalf when necessary . Particularly in the early years of her son 's reign , she provided political advice and attempted to mediate during the Becket controversy . She worked extensively with the Church , founding Cistercian monasteries , and was known for her piety . She was buried under the high altar at Bec Abbey after her death in 1167 .


The Philadelphia Museum of Art contains minor holdings of American origin.

Philadelphia Museum of Art The Philadelphia Museum of Art is an art museum originally chartered in 1876 for the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia . The main museum building was completed in 1928 on Fairmount , a hill located at the northwest end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway at Eakins Oval . The museum administers collections containing over 240,000 objects including major holdings of European , American and Asian origin . The various classes of artwork include sculpture , paintings , prints , drawings , photographs , armor and decorative arts . The attendance figure for the museum was 751,797 in 2015 , an increase of 17 % from the prior year , ranking it among the top one hundred most-visited art museums in the world . The museum is also one of the largest art museums in the world based on gallery space .   The Philadelphia Museum of Art administers several annexes including the Rodin Museum , also located on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway , and the Ruth and Raymond G. Perelman Building , which is located across the street just north of the main building . The Perelman Building , which opened in 2007 , houses more than 150,000 prints , drawings and photographs , along with 30,000 costume and textile pieces , and over 1,000 modern and contemporary design objects including furniture , ceramics and glasswork . The museum also administers the historic colonial-era houses of Mount Pleasant and Cedar Grove , both located in Fairmount Park . The main museum building and its annexes are owned by the City of Philadelphia and administered by a registered nonprofit corporation .   , the standard adult admission price is $ 20 which allows entrance to the main building and all annexes for two consecutive days . The museum is closed on Mondays except on some holidays . A special `` Pay What You Wish '' program is in effect on the first Sunday of each month from 10:00 a.m. -- 5:00 p.m. and every Wednesday evening from 5:00 -- 8:45 p.m. when visitors are requested to '' ... support us with whatever amount you wish . '' Several special exhibitions are held in the museum every year , including touring exhibitions arranged with other museums in the United States and abroad . Special exhibitions may have an extra charge for entrance .


Henry VIII made radical changes to the English constitution, like the divine right of kings.

Henry VIII of England Henry VIII ( 28 June 1491 -- 28 January 1547 ) was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death . Henry was the second Tudor monarch , succeeding his father , Henry VII .   Henry is best known for his six marriages and , in particular , his efforts to have his first marriage , to Catherine of Aragon , annulled . His disagreement with the Pope on the question of such an annulment led Henry to initiate the English Reformation , separating the Church of England from papal authority and appointing himself the Supreme Head of the Church of England . Despite his resulting excommunication , Henry remained a believer in core Catholic theological teachings .   Domestically , Henry is known for his radical changes to the English Constitution , ushering in the theory of the divine right of kings to England . Besides asserting the sovereign 's supremacy over the Church of England , he greatly expanded royal power during his reign . Charges of treason and heresy were commonly used to quash dissent , and those accused were often executed without a formal trial , by means of bills of attainder . He achieved many of his political aims through the work of his chief ministers , some of whom were banished or executed when they fell out of his favour . Thomas Wolsey , Thomas More , Thomas Cromwell , Richard Rich , and Thomas Cranmer all figured prominently in Henry 's administration . He was an extravagant spender and used the proceeds from the Dissolution of the Monasteries and acts of the Reformation Parliament to convert into royal revenue the money that was formerly paid to Rome . Despite the influx of money from these sources , Henry was continually on the verge of financial ruin due to his personal extravagance as well as his numerous costly continental wars , particularly with Francis I of France and the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V , as he sought to enforce his claim to the Kingdom of France . At home , he oversaw the legal union of England and Wales with the Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542 and following the Crown of Ireland Act 1542 he was the first English monarch to rule as King of Ireland .   His contemporaries considered Henry in his prime to be an attractive , educated , and accomplished king , and he has been described as `` one of the most charismatic rulers to sit on the English throne '' . He was an author and composer . As he aged , Henry became severely obese and his health suffered , contributing to his death in 1547 . He is frequently characterised in his later life as a lustful , egotistical , harsh , and insecure king . He was succeeded by his son Edward VI .


Miyu Irino is a Japanese voice actor and actor born in Tokyo .  He voices the lead character Sora in the Kingdom Hearts video game series . His major anime voice roles include Todomatsu Matsuno in Osomatsu-san , Haku in Spirited Away , Daisuke Niwa in D.N.Angel , Syaoran Li in Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle , Sena Kobayakawa in Eyeshield 21 , Astral in Yu-Gi-Oh ! Zexal , Jinta in Anohana : The Flower We Saw That Day , Yuichiro Hyakuya in Seraph of the End and Ishida Shouya in A Silent Voice . On June 26 , 2009 , he released his debut mini-album called Soleil , and in August 2009 , Irino played a leading role in the movie Monochrome Girl . His first single album , Faith , was released on November 25 , 2009 .