Emma Thompson was in a movie called the The Tall Guy.

Emma Thompson Emma Thompson ( born 15 April 1959 ) is a British actress , activist , author , comedienne and screenwriter . Born in London to English actor Eric Thompson and Scottish actress Phyllida Law , Thompson was educated at Newnham College , University of Cambridge , where she became a member of the Footlights troupe . After appearing in several comedy programmes , she first came to prominence in 1987 in two BBC TV series , Tutti Frutti and Fortunes of War , winning the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress for her work in both series . Her first film role was in the 1989 romantic comedy The Tall Guy , and in the early 1990s she frequently collaborated with her then husband , actor and director Kenneth Branagh . The pair became popular in the British media and co-starred in several films , including Dead Again ( 1991 ) and Much Ado About Nothing ( 1993 ) .   In 1992 , Thompson won an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award for Best Actress for the period drama Howards End . In 1993 , she garnered dual Academy Award nominations for her roles in The Remains of the Day as the housekeeper of a grand household and In the Name of the Father as a lawyer . Thompson scripted and starred in Sense and Sensibility ( 1995 ) , which earned her ( among other awards ) an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay , and a BAFTA Award for Best Actress . Other notable film and television credits include : the Harry Potter film series , Wit ( 2001 ) , Love Actually ( 2003 ) , Angels in America ( 2003 ) , Nanny McPhee ( 2005 ) , Stranger than Fiction ( 2006 ) , Last Chance Harvey ( 2008 ) , Men in Black 3 ( 2012 ) , Brave ( 2012 ) and Beauty and the Beast ( 2017 ) . In 2013 , she received acclaim and several award nominations for her portrayal of P. L. Travers in Saving Mr. Banks .   Thompson is married to actor Greg Wise , with whom she lives in London . They have one daughter and an adopted son . She is an activist in the areas of human rights and environmentalism and has received criticism for her outspokenness . She has written two books adapted from The Tale of Peter Rabbit .


Grant Gustin Thomas Grant Gustin ( born January 14 , 1990 ) is an American actor , singer , and dancer . He is known for his role as Barry Allen / the Flash ( based on the DC Comics character of the same name ) on the CW series The Flash and Arrow , both in the Arrowverse television franchise , and his role as Sebastian Smythe on the Fox series Glee .


Connaught Tunnel was incapable of being equipped with a better ventilation system.

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


Cindy McCain is chair of a large Boston Beer Co beer distributor.

Cindy McCain Cindy Lou Hensley McCain ( born May 20 , 1954 ) is an American businesswoman , philanthropist , and humanitarian , and the wife of long-time United States Senator and 2008 Republican presidential nominee John McCain of Arizona .   She was born and raised in Phoenix , Arizona , as the daughter of wealthy beer distributor Jim Hensley . After receiving bachelor 's and master 's degrees from the University of Southern California , she became a special education teacher . She married John McCain in 1980 and the couple moved to Arizona in 1981 , where her husband would be elected to the United States Congress the following year and has been in office since then . The couple had three children together , in addition to adopting another . From 1988 to 1995 , she founded and operated a nonprofit organization , the American Voluntary Medical Team , which organized trips by medical personnel to disaster-stricken or war-torn third-world areas . During this time , she became addicted to painkillers for several years and resorted to having a physician write illegal prescriptions on her behalf . She reached an agreement with the government in which no charges were filed against her .   Upon her father 's death in 2000 , she inherited majority control and became chair of Hensley & Co. , one of the largest Anheuser-Busch beer distributors in the United States . She participated in both of her husband 's presidential campaigns and , in 2008 , drew both positive and negative scrutiny for her appearance , demeanor , wealth , spending habits , and financial obligations . She continues to be an active philanthropist and serves on the boards of Operation Smile , Eastern Congo Initiative , CARE and HALO Trust , frequently making overseas trips in conjunction with their activities . During the 2010s she has become prominent in the fight against human trafficking .


Hensley & Co. Hensley & Co. , also known as Hensley Beverage Company , is an Anheuser-Busch beer wholesaler and distributor headquartered in the West Phoenix area of Phoenix , Arizona . It markets to the Phoenix , Tempe , and Prescott Valley areas . It is the third-largest Anheuser-Busch distributor in the United States and one of the largest privately held companies in Arizona . It is arguably the best-known beer distributorship in America .   The company was founded in 1955 by Arizona businessman Jim Hensley and steadily grew based upon population growth in the region and a close arrangement with Anheuser-Busch . Following Hensley 's death in 2000 , his daughter Cindy Hensley McCain became the controlling owner . Hensley & Co. maintains an active presence in the Phoenix area in terms of sponsorships and charitable giving . Its representatives have held high positions in several city and state business groups and the company is active in political discussions that affect the industry .


Oscar Wilde Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde ( 16 October 185430 November 1900 ) was an Irish playwright , novelist , essayist , and poet . After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s , he became one of London 's most popular playwrights in the early 1890s . He is remembered for his epigrams , his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray , his plays , as well as the circumstances of his imprisonment and early death .   Wilde 's parents were successful Anglo-Irish , Dublin intellectuals . Their son became fluent in French and German early in life . At university , Wilde read Greats ; he proved himself to be an outstanding classicist , first at Dublin , then at Oxford . He became known for his involvement in the rising philosophy of aestheticism , led by two of his tutors , Walter Pater and John Ruskin . After university , Wilde moved to London into fashionable cultural and social circles .   As a spokesman for aestheticism , he tried his hand at various literary activities : he published a book of poems , lectured in the United States and Canada on the new `` English Renaissance in Art '' , and then returned to London where he worked prolifically as a journalist . Known for his biting wit , flamboyant dress and glittering conversation , Wilde became one of the best-known personalities of his day .   At the turn of the 1890s , he refined his ideas about the supremacy of art in a series of dialogues and essays , and incorporated themes of decadence , duplicity , and beauty into his only novel , The Picture of Dorian Gray ( 1890 ) . The opportunity to construct aesthetic details precisely , and combine them with larger social themes , drew Wilde to write drama . He wrote Salome ( 1891 ) in French in Paris but it was refused a licence for England due to the absolute prohibition of Biblical subjects on the English stage . Unperturbed , Wilde produced four society comedies in the early 1890s , which made him one of the most successful playwrights of late Victorian London .   At the height of his fame and success , while The Importance of Being Earnest ( 1895 ) , was still being performed in London , Wilde had the Marquess of Queensberry prosecuted for criminal libel . The Marquess was the father of Wilde 's lover , Lord Alfred Douglas . The libel trial unearthed evidence that caused Wilde to drop his charges and led to his own arrest and trial for gross indecency with men . After two more trials he was convicted and imprisoned for two years ' hard labour , the maximum penalty .   In 1897 , in prison , he wrote De Profundis , which was published in 1905 , a long letter which discusses his spiritual journey through his trials , forming a dark counterpoint to his earlier philosophy of pleasure . Upon his release he left immediately for France , never to return to Ireland or Britain . There he wrote his last work , The Ballad of Reading Gaol ( 1898 ) , a long poem commemorating the harsh rhythms of prison life . He died destitute in Paris at the age of 46 .


Jason Sudeikis is a Canadian and was born on September 18, 1975.

Jason Sudeikis Daniel Jason Sudeikis ( -LSB- sʊˈdeɪkɪs -RSB- ; born September 18 , 1975 ) is an American actor , comedian , screenwriter , and producer . He began his career in improvisational comedy and was a member of The Second City . In 2003 , he was hired as a sketch writer for Saturday Night Live and was a cast member from 2005 to 2013 .   He has appeared on the television shows 30 Rock , The Cleveland Show , Eastbound & Down , The Last Man on Earth , Son of Zorn , and other shows . He is best known for his film roles in Hall Pass ( 2011 ) , A Good Old Fashioned Orgy ( 2011 ) , Horrible Bosses ( 2011 ) , We 're the Millers ( 2013 ) , Horrible Bosses 2 ( 2014 ) , Sleeping with Other People ( 2015 ) , The Angry Birds Movie ( 2016 ) , and Colossal ( 2017 ) .


Meesa Madhavan Meesha Madhavan ( Malayalam : മീശ മാധവൻ , English : Mustache Madhavan ) is a 2002 Indian Malayalam romantic comedy film directed by Lal Jose and written by Ranjan Pramod ; starring Dileep in the title role . The film went on to become a commercial success and the highest grossing Malayalam film of the year , and also established Dileep 's status as a bankable star . This film was remade in Telugu as Dongodu ( 2003 ) starring Ravi Teja & in Kannada as Hori ( 2010 ) starring Vinod Prabhakar .


Manathe Kottaram Manathe Kottaram is a 1995 Malayalam film written and directed by Sunil . The film was produced by Hameed under the banner of Gemi Movies and distributed by Star Plus Release . It stars Dileep , Nadirsha , Indrans , Harisree Ashokan and Kushboo in the lead roles .


Vellaripravinte Changathi Vellaripravinte Changathi ( The Dove 's Friend ) is a 2011 Malayalam film directed by Akku Akbar , starring Dileep and Kavya Madhavan in the lead roles . The film is loosely based on the famous Sulekha murder case .


C.I.D. Moosa C.I.D.Moosa is a 2003 Malayalam slapstick comedy film written by the duo Udayakrishna and Siby K. Thomas , directed by Johny Antony , and co-produced by and starring Dileep in the title role . The film also stars Harisree Ashokan , Cochin Haneefa , Jagathy Sreekumar , Bhavana , Oduvil Unnikrishnan , Saleem Kumar , and Ashish Vidyarthi . The film is a parody of the spy genre such as the James Bond series and C.I.D. Nazeer . It is considered as one of the most popular and most loved movies of Dileep 's career .   It was remade in Tamil as Seena Thaana 001 , in Kannada as CID Eesha and in Telugu as Ramachari - Eedo Pedda Goodachari . The same team are planning to make the sequel of this film . The name they have announced is CID Moosa From Scotland ( 2016 ) . This movie has been put on hold for the time being .


Kathavasheshan Kathavasheshan ( The Deceased ) is a 2004 Malayalam film written and directed by T. V. Chandran , starring Dileep and Jyothirmayi in the lead roles . Veteran Bengali actress Gita Dey made a special appearance .


Film producer Film producers fill a variety of roles depending upon the type of producer . Either employed by a production company or independent , producers plan and coordinate various aspects of film production , such as selecting script , coordinating writing , directing and editing , and arranging financing . During the `` discovery stage '' , the producer has to find and acknowledge promising material . Then , unless the film is supposed to be based on an original script , the producer has to find an appropriate screenwriter .   For various reasons , producers can not always supervise all of the production . In this case , the main producer may appoint executive producers , line producers , or unit production managers who represent the main producer 's interests . The producer has the last word on whether sounds or music have to be changed , including deciding if scenes have to be cut . They are in charge of selling the film or arranging distribution rights as well . The producer 's role can vary significantly from project to project , based on the circumstances and funding . They generally are in charge of things like hiring staff , creating filming schedules , checking and approving locations , and much more .


Kunjikoonan (2002 film) Kunjikoonan is a 2002 Malayalam film , made in India , by Sasi Shanker and starring Dileep and Navya Nair . Dileep played dual roles in this movie . Dileep won Asianet Film Awards for Best actor   This movie was later remade to Tamil as Perazhagan , starring Surya Sivakumar and Jyothika . It was also remade to Kannada as Manmatha in 2006 .


Dileep (actor) Dileep ( born Gopalakrishnan Padmanabhan Pillai , on 27 October 1968 ) is an Indian film actor , singer , impressionist , producer , and businessman . He 's best known for his slapstick comedy roles in Malayalam cinema and he is the Richest superstar and third highest paid actor of malayalm cinema . In a career spanning over a quarter-century , he has starred in more than 130 films .   Dileep began his film career in 1991 by assisting director Kamal . He attained popularity through his impressionist acts in stage shows and Comicola , a television comedy series aired on Asianet . His role as Dileep in Manathe Kottaram ( 1994 ) paved way to his acting career . Films such as Sallapam ( 1996 ) , Ee Puzhayum Kadannu ( 1997 ) , Punjabi House ( 1998 ) , Udayapuram Sulthan ( 1999 ) , and Chandranudikkunna Dikhil ( 1999 ) established his status as a prominent actor during the late-1990s .   After delivering back-to-back hits in the early-2000s with films such as Thenkasipattanam ( 2000 ) , Joker ( 2000 ) , Ee Parakkum Thalika ( 2001 ) , Ishtam ( 2001 ) , Mazhathullikkilukkam ( 2002 ) and Kalyanaraman ( 2002 ) , Dileep established himself as a bankable lead star in the Malayalam film industry with the blockbuster success of Meesa Madhavan ( 2002 ) . He won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for his role as Madhavan in Meesa Madhavan . He won his first Kerala State Film Award ( Special Jury ) for his performance as Vimal Kumar ( Kunjan ) in Kunjikoonan ( 2002 ) and later won the Best Actor Award for his performance as Mukkom Shajahan in the film Vellaripravinte Changathi ( 2011 ) .   Dileep ventured into production , and produced and starred in C.I.D. Moosa ( 2003 ) under the banner Graand Production . Kathavasheshan ( 2004 ) won Dileep the Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Film as a producer . In 2008 , under the banner of Graand Production , Dileep produced Twenty :20 by casting most of the mainstream actors of Malayalam cinema , which had become the highest grossing Malayalam film at that time . He produced the multi-starrer in order to raise funds for the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists ( AMMA ) .


Marlon Brando played an Air Force Major and he was American.

Marlon Brando Marlon Brando , Jr. ( April 3 , 1924 -- July 1 , 2004 ) was an American actor , film director and political activist . He is credited with bringing realism to film acting . He helped to popularize the Stanislavski system of acting , studying with Stella Adler in the 1940s . Brando is widely known for his Academy Award-winning performances as Terry Malloy in On the Waterfront ( 1954 ) and Vito Corleone in The Godfather ( 1972 ) , as well as his performances in A Streetcar Named Desire ( 1951 ) , Viva Zapata ! ( 1952 ) , Julius Caesar ( 1953 ) , The Wild One ( 1953 ) , Guys and Dolls ( 1955 ) , Sayonara ( 1957 ) , Reflections in a Golden Eye ( 1967 ) , Last Tango in Paris ( 1972 ) , and Apocalypse Now ( 1979 ) . Brando was also an activist for many causes , notably the Civil Rights Movement and various Native American movements .   He initially gained acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for reprising the role of Stanley Kowalski in the 1951 film adaptation of Tennessee Williams ' play A Streetcar Named Desire , a role that he had originated successfully on Broadway . He received further praise for his performance as Terry Malloy in On the Waterfront , and his portrayal of the rebel motorcycle gang leader Johnny Strabler in The Wild One proved to be a lasting image in popular culture . Brando received Academy Award nominations for playing Emiliano Zapata in Viva Zapata ! ; Mark Antony in Joseph L. Mankiewicz 's 1953 film adaptation of Shakespeare 's Julius Caesar ; and Air Force Major Lloyd Gruver in Sayonara ( 1957 ) , an adaption of James Michener 's 1954 novel . Brando was included in a list of Top Ten Money Making Stars three times in the 1950s , coming in at number 10 in 1954 , number 6 in 1955 , and number 4 in 1958 .   The 1960s proved to be a fallow decade for Brando . He directed and starred in the cult western film One-Eyed Jacks , a critical and commercial flop , after which he delivered a series of box-office failures , beginning with the 1962 film adaptation of the novel Mutiny on the Bounty . After 10 years , during which he did not appear in a successful film , he won his second Academy Award for playing Vito Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola 's The Godfather , a role critics consider among his greatest . The Godfather was then one of the most commercially successful films of all time . With that and his Oscar-nominated performance in Last Tango in Paris , Brando re-established himself in the ranks of top box-office stars , placing sixth and tenth in the Money Making Stars poll in 1972 and 1973 , respectively . Brando took a four-year hiatus before appearing in The Missouri Breaks ( 1976 ) . After this , he was content with being a highly paid character actor in cameo roles , such as in Superman ( 1978 ) and The Formula ( 1980 ) , before taking a nine-year break from motion pictures . According to the Guinness Book of World Records , Brando was paid a record $ 3.7 million ( $ million in inflation-adjusted dollars ) and 11.75 % of the gross profits for 13 days ' work on Superman . He finished out the 1970s with his controversial performance as Colonel Kurtz in another Coppola film , Apocalypse Now , a box-office hit for which he was highly paid and which helped finance his career layoff during the 1980s .   Brando was ranked by the American Film Institute as the fourth-greatest movie star among male movie stars whose screen debuts occurred in or before 1950 . He was one of only three professional actors , along with Charlie Chaplin and Marilyn Monroe , named in 1999 by Time magazine as one of its 100 Most Important People of the Century . He died of respiratory failure on July 1 , 2004 , at age 80 .


Sayonara Sayonara is a 1957 Technicolor American film starring Marlon Brando in Technirama . The picture tells the story of an American Air Force flier who was an ace fighter pilot during the Korean War .   Sayonara won four Academy Awards , including acting honors for co-stars Red Buttons and Miyoshi Umeki .   The film 's screenplay was adapted by Paul Osborn from the novel by James Michener , and was produced by William Goetz and directed by Joshua Logan . Unlike most 1950s romantic dramas , Sayonara deals squarely with racism and prejudice . The supporting cast also features Patricia Owens , James Garner , Martha Scott , Ricardo Montalbán , and Miiko Taka .


Before Night Falls (film) Before Night Falls is a 2000 American biographical romantic drama directed by Julian Schnabel . Based on the autobiography of the same name of Reinaldo Arenas , which was published in English in 1993 , the screenplay was written by Schnabel , Cunningham O'Keefe and Lázaro Gómez Carriles . The film stars Javier Bardem ( who was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor ) , Johnny Depp , Olivier Martinez , Andrea Di Stefano , Santiago Magill and Michael Wincott . The film had its world premiere at the 2000 Venice International Film Festival .


Halle Berry participated in the Miss USA Pageant.

Halle Berry Halle Maria Berry ( born Maria Halle Berry ; August 14 , 1966 ) is an American actress . She won the 2002 Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the romantic drama Monster 's Ball ( 2001 ) . As of 2017 , she is the only black woman to have won a Best Actress Academy Award .   Berry was one of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood during the 2000s and has been involved in the production of several of the films in which she performed . She is also a Revlon spokesmodel . Before becoming an actress , she started modeling and entered several beauty contests , finishing as the 1st runner-up in the Miss USA Pageant and coming in 6th place in the Miss World Pageant in 1986 . Her breakthrough film role was in the romantic comedy Boomerang ( 1992 ) , alongside Eddie Murphy , which led to roles in films such as the comedy The Flintstones ( 1994 ) , the political comedy-drama Bulworth ( 1998 ) and the television film Introducing Dorothy Dandridge ( 1999 ) , for which she won the Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Actress , among many other awards .   In addition to her Academy Award win , Berry garnered high-profile roles in the 2000s such as Storm in the X-Men film series ( beginning in 2000 ) , the action crime thriller Swordfish ( 2001 ) , and the spy film Die Another Day ( 2002 ) , where she played Bond Girl Jinx . She then appeared in the X-Men sequels , X2 ( 2003 ) and X-Men : The Last Stand ( 2006 ) . In the 2010s , she appeared in movies such as the science fiction film Cloud Atlas ( 2012 ) , the crime thriller The Call ( 2013 ) and X-Men : Days of Future Past ( 2014 ) .   Berry was formerly married to baseball player David Justice , and singer-songwriter Eric Benét . She has a daughter by model Gabriel Aubry , and a son by actor Olivier Martinez .


Chris Brown has achieved some sort of success.

Chris Brown Christopher Maurice `` Chris '' Brown ( born May 5 , 1989 ) is an American singer , songwriter , and dancer . Born in Tappahannock , Virginia , he was involved in his church choir and several local talent shows from a young age . Having signed with Jive Records in 2004 , Brown released his self-titled debut studio album the following year . It peaked at number two on the US Billboard 200 and was later certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America ( RIAA ) , selling an overall three million copies worldwide . With his first single `` Run It ! '' peaking atop the US Billboard Hot 100 , Brown became the first male artist as a lead since Diddy in 1997 to have his debut single top the chart . His second album Exclusive ( 2007 ) spawned his second Hot 100 number one `` Kiss Kiss '' , in addition to `` With You '' and `` Forever '' . The album was also certified double platinum by the RIAA . In addition to his solo commercial success , Brown has been featured on several singles such as `` No Air '' , a duet with singer Jordin Sparks , `` Shortie like Mine '' with the rapper Bow Wow and `` Shawty Get Loose '' alongside Lil Mama and T-Pain . The songs have peaked at number three , number nine and number ten on the US Billboard Hot 100 respectively .   In 2009 , Brown received significant media attention after pleading guilty to felony assault of his then girlfriend , singer Rihanna ; he was sentenced to five years of probation and six months of community service . His third album Graffiti was released later that year , and included the top-twenty single `` I Can Transform Ya '' . Brown 's fourth album F.A.M.E. ( 2011 ) became his first to top the Billboard 200 ; it spawned the singles `` Yeah 3x '' , `` Look at Me Now '' , and `` Beautiful People '' . F.A.M.E. earned Brown his first Grammy Award for Best R&B Album at the 54th Grammy Awards . His fifth album Fortune was released in 2012 . However , after the release of Exclusive , Brown 's albums have not been well received commercially or by music critics , with the exception of X , which received a normalized rating of 63 . Brown 's seventh studio album Royalty was released on December 18 , 2015 .   Apart from his work in the music industry , Brown has pursued an acting career . In 2007 , he made his on-screen feature film debut in Stomp the Yard , and appeared as a guest on the television series The O.C. . Other films Brown has appeared in , include This Christmas ( 2007 ) , Takers ( 2010 ) , Think Like a Man ( 2012 ) , and Battle of the Year ( 2013 ) . Throughout his career , Brown has won several awards , including 14 BET Awards , 5 Billboard Music Awards , and 5 Soul Train Music Awards . According to Billboard , Brown has the seventh most Hot 100 entries on the chart with 82 .


The Smurfs began filming in New York City.

The Smurfs (film) The Smurfs is a 2011 American 3D live-action/computer-animated comedy film loosely based on the comic book series of the same name created by the Belgian comics artist Peyo . It was directed by Raja Gosnell and stars Hank Azaria , Neil Patrick Harris , Jayma Mays and Sofía Vergara , with Jonathan Winters and Katy Perry as the voices of Papa Smurf and Smurfette . It is the first CGI/live-action hybrid film produced by Sony Pictures Animation , and the first in The Smurfs duology . The film tells the story of the Smurfs as they get lost in New York , and try to find a way to get back home before Gargamel catches them .   After five years of negotiations , Jordan Kerner bought the rights in 2002 , and the film entered development with Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies , until Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation obtained the film rights in 2008 . Filming began in March 2010 in New York City .   After having the release date changed three times , Columbia Pictures released The Smurfs on July 29 , 2011 . Box office analysts initially predicted the film would tie with Cowboys & Aliens , but The Smurfs ultimately came in second , grossing $ 35.6 million against Cowboys & Aliens $ 36.4 million gross . The Smurfs reached the $ 500 million milestone in the weekend of September 23 -- 25 , 2011 .   A sequel , titled The Smurfs 2 , was released on July 31 , 2013 .


Marilyn Monroe was a part of the effort for the war.

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


God in Islam's theology is all-powerful and all-knowing.

God in Islam In Islamic theology , God ( -LSB- الله , translit = Allah , Allāh -RSB- ) is the all-powerful and all-knowing creator , sustainer , ordainer and judge of everything in existence .   Islam emphasizes that God is strictly singular : unique , inherently One , also all-merciful and omnipotent . According to Islamic teachings , beyond the Throne and according to the Quran , `` No vision can grasp him , but His grasp is over all vision : He is above all comprehension , yet is acquainted with all things . ''   The Surat 112 Al - ` Ikhlāş ( The Sincerity ) says :  `` He is God , -LSB- who is -RSB- One .  God , the Eternal Refuge .  He neither begets nor is born ,  Nor is there to Him any equivalent . ''   In Islam , there are 99 known names of God ( lit . meaning : `` The best names '' ) , each of which evokes a distinct attribute of God . All these names refer to Allah , the supreme and all-comprehensive god . Among the 99 names of God , the most familiar and frequent are `` the Compassionate '' and `` the Merciful '' . Creation and ordering of the universe is seen as an act of prime mercy for which all creatures sing God 's attributes and bear witness to God 's unity .


Fernando Alonso is a double World Champion.

Fernando Alonso Fernando Alonso Díaz ( born 29 July 1981 ) is a Spanish Formula One racing driver and a double World Champion who is currently racing for McLaren-Honda . He is often regarded as one of the greatest Formula One drivers in the history of the sport .  He took part in the 2017 Indianapolis 500 .   Born in Oviedo , the capital of the autonomous region of Asturias , Alonso started in karting from the age of 3 . He won three consecutive karting championships in Spain from 1994 to 1997 , and he became world karting champion in 1996 . He made his Formula One debut in the season with Minardi , and then moved to the Renault team as a test driver the next year . Starting in Alonso then became one of the main drivers of the team . On 25 September 2005 , he won the Formula One World Drivers ' Championship title at the age of 24 years and 58 days , at the time making him the youngest Formula One World Drivers ' Champion . After retaining the title the following year , Alonso also became the youngest double Champion at the time . He joined McLaren in , before returning to Renault for two seasons in and .   For the season , he joined Scuderia Ferrari . Although Alonso did not reach his goal of winning a third title while at Ferrari he managed to finish runner up on three occasions ( , and ) as well as winning eleven Grands Prix with the team and clearly beating his teammates for points in all five seasons . His strongest title challenges were in 2010 and 2012 , finishing both seasons just adrift of title winner Sebastian Vettel . He left Ferrari at the end of the season , two years prior to the original expiry of his contract .   Nicknamed El Nano , a typical pseudonym for Fernando in Asturias , his place of birth , Alonso acts as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF . Alonso also had become the youngest driver to win a pole position and Grand Prix respectively in the 2003 Malaysian Grand Prix and the 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix , before both records were broken by Sebastian Vettel in the 2008 Italian Grand Prix . With his fourth-place finish in the 2013 Japanese Grand Prix , scoring his 1,571 st career point , Alonso took over the record for most championship points in his career . However , the record has once again been broken by Sebastian Vettel at the 2015 Italian Grand Prix . , Alonso is the only Spanish driver to have won a Formula One Grand Prix and is the driver with the sixth highest number of Grand Prix wins , with .


The Chainsmokers The Chainsmokers are an American DJ/producer duo consisting of Andrew Taggart and Alex Pall . The EDM-pop duo achieved a breakthrough with their 2014 song '' #Selfie '' , which was a top twenty single in several countries . Their debut EP , Bouquet was released in October 2015 and featured the single `` Roses '' , which reached the top 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 . `` Do n't Let Me Down '' became their first top 5 single there and won the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording at the 59th awards ceremony , while `` Closer '' became their first number-one single on the chart . They have also won an American Music Award and five iHeartRadio Music Awards .   The duo 's second EP Collage was released in November 2016 , consisting of several previously released singles . Their debut studio album Memories ... Do Not Open was released in April 2017 .


Bruno Mars's band is not named "The Hooligans."

Bruno Mars Peter Gene Hernandez ( born October 8 , 1985 ) , known professionally as Bruno Mars ( -LSB- ˈmɑrz -RSB- ) , is an American singer-songwriter , multi-instrumentalist , record producer , and choreographer . Born and raised in Honolulu , Hawaii , by a family of musicians , Mars began making music at a young age and performed in various musical venues in his hometown throughout his childhood . He graduated from high school and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a musical career . After being dropped by Motown Records , Mars signed a recording contract with Atlantic Records in 2009 .   In 2009 , he co-founded the production team The Smeezingtons , responsible for the singles `` Nothin ' on You '' by B.o.B and `` Billionaire '' by Travie McCoy . He featured on the hooks for both singles , becoming recognized as a solo artist . His debut studio album Doo-Wops & Hooligans ( 2010 ) included the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart-topping singles `` Just the Way You Are '' and `` Grenade '' , as well as the number-four single `` The Lazy Song '' . His second album , Unorthodox Jukebox ( 2012 ) , peaked at number one in the United States . The album spawned the international singles `` Locked Out of Heaven '' , `` When I Was Your Man '' and `` Treasure '' . In 2014 , Mars lent his vocals to Mark Ronson 's `` Uptown Funk '' . In 2016 , he released his third studio album 24K Magic with the lead single of the same title released on October 7 , 2016 . To date , he has sold over 115 million singles and 9 million albums worldwide , making him one of the best-selling artists of all time . Mars has landed seven number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 since his career launched in 2010 , attaining his first five faster than any male artist since Elvis Presley .   Mars has received many awards and nominations , including five Grammy Awards , and was named one of Times 100 most influential people in the world in 2011 . In December 2013 , he ranked number one on the Forbes 30 under 30 list . Mars is known for his stage performances and retro showmanship . He is accompanied by his band , The Hooligans , who play a variety of instruments such as electric guitar , bass , piano , keyboards , drums and horns , and also serve as backup singers and dancers . Mars performs in a wide range of musical styles .


Jimmy Carter escalated the war between the Eastern and Western Blocs.

Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter Jr. ( born October 1 , 1924 ) is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States from 1977 to 1981 . A member of the Democratic Party , he served as the Governor of Georgia prior to his election as president . Carter has remained active in public life during his post-presidency , and in 2002 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work with the Carter Center .   Carter joined the United States Navy after graduating high school , serving on nuclear submarines . He left the Navy in 1953 to return to Georgia , where he worked as a peanut farmer . From 1963 to 1967 , Carter served in the Georgia State Senate . In 1970 , Carter won election as Governor of Georgia , defeating former Governor Carl Sanders in the Democratic primary . He served as governor from 1971 to 1975 . Despite being little-known outside of Georgia at the start of the campaign , Carter won the 1976 Democratic presidential nomination . In the general election , Carter defeated incumbent Republican President Gerald Ford in a relatively close election .   On his second day in office , Carter pardoned all evaders of the Vietnam War drafts . During Carter 's term as President , two new cabinet-level departments , the Department of Energy and the Department of Education , were established . He established a national energy policy that included conservation , price control , and new technology . In foreign affairs , Carter pursued the Camp David Accords , the Panama Canal Treaties , the second round of Strategic Arms Limitation Talks ( SALT II ) , and the return of the Panama Canal Zone to Panama . On the economic front he confronted persistent `` stagflation '' , a combination of high inflation , high unemployment and slow growth . The end of his presidential tenure was marked by the 1979 -- 1981 Iran hostage crisis , the 1979 energy crisis , the Three Mile Island nuclear accident , and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan . In response to the invasion , Carter ended détente , escalated the Cold War , and led the international boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow . In 1980 , Carter faced a primary challenge from Senator Ted Kennedy , but Carter won re-nomination at the 1980 Democratic National Convention . Carter lost the general election in an electoral landslide to Republican nominee Ronald Reagan . Polls of historians and political scientists usually rank Carter as a below average president .   In 2012 , he surpassed Herbert Hoover as the longest-retired president in U.S. history , and he is also the first president to mark the 40th anniversary of his inauguration . He set up the Carter Center in 1982 as his base for advancing human rights . He has also traveled extensively to conduct peace negotiations , observe elections , and advance disease prevention and eradication in developing nations . Additionally , Carter is a key figure in the Habitat for Humanity project and he has written several books about various topics . In reference to current political views , he has criticized some of Israel 's actions and policies in regards to the Israeli -- Palestinian conflict and has advocated for a two-state solution . He has vigorously opposed the Supreme Court 's decision in Citizens United v. FEC to strike down limits on campaign spending by corporations and unions , saying that the U.S. is `` no longer a functioning democracy '' and now has a system of `` unlimited political bribery . ''


Odin In Germanic mythology , Odin ( from Old Norse Óðinn ) is a widely revered god . In Norse mythology , from which stems most of the information about the god , Odin is associated with healing , death , royalty , the gallows , knowledge , battle , sorcery , poetry , frenzy , and the runic alphabet , and is the husband of the goddess Frigg . In wider Germanic mythology and paganism , Odin was known in Old English as Wōden , in Old Saxon as Wōdan , and in Old High German as Wuotan or Wōtan , all stemming from the reconstructed Proto-Germanic theonym wōđanaz .   Odin is a prominently mentioned god throughout the recorded history of the Germanic peoples , from the Roman occupation of regions of Germania through the tribal expansions of the Migration Period and the Viking Age . In the modern period , Odin continued to be acknowledged in the rural folklore of Germanic Europe . References to Odin appear in place names throughout regions historically inhabited by the ancient Germanic peoples , and the day of the week Wednesday bears his name in many Germanic languages , including English .   In Anglo-Saxon England , Odin held a particular place as a euhemerized ancestral figure among royalty , and he is frequently referred to as a founding figure among various other Germanic peoples , including the Langobards . Forms of his name appear frequently throughout the Germanic record , though narratives regarding Odin are mainly found in Old Norse works recorded in Iceland , primarily around the 13th century . These texts make up the bulk of modern understanding of Norse mythology .   In Old Norse texts , Odin is depicted as one-eyed and long-bearded , frequently wielding a spear named Gungnir , and wearing a cloak and a broad hat . He is often accompanied by his animal companions -- the wolves Geri and Freki and the ravens Huginn and Muninn , who bring him information from all over Midgard -- and rides the flying , eight-legged steed Sleipnir across the sky and into the underworld . Odin is attested as having many sons , most famously the gods Thor ( with Jörð ) and Baldr ( with Frigg ) , and is known by hundreds of names . In these texts , he frequently seeks greater knowledge , at times in disguise ( most famously by obtaining the Mead of Poetry ) , makes wagers with his wife Frigg over the outcome of exploits , and takes part in both the creation of the world by way of slaying the primordial being Ymir and the gift of life to the first two humans Ask and Embla . Odin has a particular association with Yule , and mankind 's knowledge of both the runes and poetry is also attributed to him .   In Old Norse texts , Odin is given primacy over female beings associated with the battlefield -- the valkyries -- and oversees Valhalla , where he receives half of those who die in battle , the einherjar . The other half are chosen by the goddess Freyja for her afterlife location , Fólkvangr . Odin consults the disembodied , herb-embalmed head of the wise being Mímir for advice , and during the foretold events of Ragnarök , Odin is told to lead the einherjar into battle before being consumed by the monstrous wolf Fenrir . In later folklore , Odin appears as a leader of the Wild Hunt , a ghostly procession of the dead through the winter sky . He has also been associated with charms and other forms of magic , particularly in Old English and Old Norse texts .   Odin has been a frequent subject of study in Germanic studies , and numerous theories have been put forward regarding his development . Some of these focus on Odin 's particular relation to other figures ; for example , the fact that Freyja 's husband Óðr appears to be something of an etymological doublet of the god , whereas Odin 's wife Frigg is in many ways similar to Freyja , and that Odin has a particular relation to the figure of Loki . Other approaches focus on Odin 's place in the historical record , a frequent question being whether the figure of Odin derives from Proto-Indo-European religion , or whether he developed later in Germanic society . In the modern period , Odin has inspired numerous works of poetry , music , and other forms of media . He is venerated in most forms of the new religious movement Heathenry , together with other gods venerated by the ancient Germanic peoples ; some branches focus particularly on him .


Feels So Good was released April 19, 2001.

Feels So Good (Mel B song) `` Feels So Good '' is a song by British recording artist Melanie B . It was written along with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis for her debut solo album Hot ( 2001 ) and released as the album 's second single on 19 February 2001 . In the United Kingdom , it peaked and debuted at number 5 , selling 55,000 copies in its first week and 140,331 altogether , thus becoming the 80th best seller of 2001 .


What a Girl Wants earned a gold certification in at least one country.

What a Girl Wants (Christina Aguilera song) `` What a Girl Wants '' is a song by American singer Christina Aguilera , taken from her self-titled debut album ( 1999 ) . A re-recorded version was released on November 28 , 1999 by RCA Records as the second single from the album , following the commercial success of the lead single `` Genie in a Bottle '' . The song was written by Shelly Peiken and Guy Roche . The song was completed and pitched to RCA executive Ron Fair as `` What a Girl Needs '' and was renamed `` What a Girl Wants '' ; Fair later gave the track to Aguilera . A Spanish version of the song , titled `` Una Mujer , '' was included on Aguilera 's second studio album Mi Reflejo ( 2000 ) .   The song was described as a pop and R&B track and had similarities to `` Genie in a Bottle '' . The song received positive reviews from music critics , who described it as a `` light '' song and compared Aguilera 's vocals on the track to those of Mariah Carey . Commercially , the song became her second consecutive US Billboard Hot 100 number-one single , and topped the charts in Canada , New Zealand , and Spain . The single eventually earned gold certifications in countries including Australia , Belgium , Sweden and the US .   A music video was released directed by Diane Martel who had also directed her previous video for `` Genie in a Bottle '' . The video presented Aguilera dancing in a room with female friends whilst being viewed by their boyfriends and saw a scene of her dressed as a medieval-style princess . In December 1999 , the video reached pole position on the US music video chart TRL . Aguilera has performed the song at events such as the US Jingle Ball and the MTV New Year 's Eve Special in 1999 , as well as her tours including the 2000 -- 01 Christina Aguilera : In Concert , the 2003 Stripped Live ... on Tour , and her 2006 -- 07 Back to Basics Tour .


The last three episodes of Glee aired on March 20, 2015.

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


The Last of Us Part II is an action-adventure video game.

The Last of Us Part II The Last of Us Part II is an upcoming action-adventure survival horror video game developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for PlayStation 4 .


Cindy McCain is chair of a large beer distributor.

Cindy McCain Cindy Lou Hensley McCain ( born May 20 , 1954 ) is an American businesswoman , philanthropist , and humanitarian , and the wife of long-time United States Senator and 2008 Republican presidential nominee John McCain of Arizona .   She was born and raised in Phoenix , Arizona , as the daughter of wealthy beer distributor Jim Hensley . After receiving bachelor 's and master 's degrees from the University of Southern California , she became a special education teacher . She married John McCain in 1980 and the couple moved to Arizona in 1981 , where her husband would be elected to the United States Congress the following year and has been in office since then . The couple had three children together , in addition to adopting another . From 1988 to 1995 , she founded and operated a nonprofit organization , the American Voluntary Medical Team , which organized trips by medical personnel to disaster-stricken or war-torn third-world areas . During this time , she became addicted to painkillers for several years and resorted to having a physician write illegal prescriptions on her behalf . She reached an agreement with the government in which no charges were filed against her .   Upon her father 's death in 2000 , she inherited majority control and became chair of Hensley & Co. , one of the largest Anheuser-Busch beer distributors in the United States . She participated in both of her husband 's presidential campaigns and , in 2008 , drew both positive and negative scrutiny for her appearance , demeanor , wealth , spending habits , and financial obligations . She continues to be an active philanthropist and serves on the boards of Operation Smile , Eastern Congo Initiative , CARE and HALO Trust , frequently making overseas trips in conjunction with their activities . During the 2010s she has become prominent in the fight against human trafficking .


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


Audrey Horne was presented in a series that debuted on Sunday, April 8, 1990.

Twin Peaks Twin Peaks is an American serial drama television series created by Mark Frost and David Lynch that premiered on April 8 , 1990 , on ABC . It was one of the top-rated series of 1990 , but declining ratings led to its cancellation after its second season in 1991 . It nonetheless gained a cult following and has been referenced in a wide variety of media . In subsequent years , Twin Peaks has often been listed among the greatest television dramas of all time .   The series follows an investigation headed by FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper ( Kyle MacLachlan ) into the murder of homecoming queen Laura Palmer ( Sheryl Lee ) in the fictional town of Twin Peaks , Washington . The narrative draws on elements of crime drama , but its uncanny tone , supernatural elements , and campy , melodramatic portrayal of eccentric characters also draw on American soap operas and horror tropes . Like much of Lynch 's work , it is distinguished by surrealism and offbeat humor , as well as distinctive cinematography . The show 's acclaimed score was composed by Angelo Badalamenti in collaboration with Lynch .   Twin Peaks was followed by a 1992 feature film , Twin Peaks : Fire Walk with Me , that serves as a prequel to the television series . In October 2014 , Showtime announced that the series would return as a limited series , which premiered on May 21 , 2017 . The limited series is written by Lynch and Frost and directed by Lynch . Many original cast members , including MacLachlan , have returned .


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 .


The Simpsons The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company . The series is a satirical depiction of working-class life epitomized by the Simpson family , which consists of Homer , Marge , Bart , Lisa , and Maggie . The show is set in the fictional town of Springfield and parodies American culture , society , television , and the human condition .   The family was conceived by Groening shortly before a solicitation for a series of animated shorts with producer James L. Brooks . Groening created a dysfunctional family and named the characters after members of his own family , substituting Bart for his own name . The shorts became a part of The Tracey Ullman Show on April 19 , 1987 . After a three-season run , the sketch was developed into a half-hour prime time show and became an early hit for Fox , becoming the network 's first series to land in the Top 30 ratings in a season ( 1989 -- 90 ) .   Since its debut on December 17 , 1989 , episodes of The Simpsons have been broadcast . Its 28th season began on September 25 , 2016 . It is the longest-running American sitcom and the longest-running American animated program , and , in 2009 , it surpassed Gunsmoke as the longest-running American scripted primetime television series . The Simpsons Movie , a feature-length film , was released in theaters worldwide on July 27 , 2007 , and grossed over $ 527 million . On November 4 , 2016 , the series was renewed for a twenty-ninth and thirtieth season of 22 episodes each , extending the show to 2019 .   The Simpsons received widespread critical acclaim throughout its first nine seasons , which are generally considered its `` Golden Age '' . Time named it the 20th century 's best television series , and Erik Adams of The A.V. Club named it `` television 's crowning achievement regardless of format '' . On January 14 , 2000 , the Simpson family was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame . It has won dozens of awards since it debuted as a series , including 31 Primetime Emmy Awards , 30 Annie Awards , and a Peabody Award . Homer 's exclamatory catchphrase `` D'oh ! '' has been adopted into the English language , while The Simpsons has influenced many adult-oriented animated sitcoms . Despite this , the show has also been criticized for what many perceive as a decline in quality over the years .


Hell's Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs Hell 's Angels : The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs is a book written by Hunter S. Thompson , first published in 1966 by Random House . It was widely lauded for its up-close and uncompromising look at the Hells Angels motorcycle club , during a time when the gang was highly feared and accused of numerous criminal activities . The New York Times described Thompson 's portrayal as `` a world most of us would never dare encounter . ''   It was Thompson 's first published book and his first attempt at a nonfiction novel .


Hunter S. Thompson Hunter Stockton Thompson ( July 18 , 1937 -- February 20 , 2005 ) was an American journalist and author , and the founder of the gonzo journalism movement . Born in Louisville , Kentucky , to a middle-class family , Thompson had a turbulent youth after the death of his father left the family in poverty . He was unable to formally finish high school as he was incarcerated for 60 days after abetting a robbery . He subsequently joined the United States Air Force before moving into journalism . He traveled frequently , including stints in California , Puerto Rico , and Brazil , before settling in Aspen , Colorado , in the early 1960s .   Thompson became internationally known with the publication of Hell 's Angels : The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs ( 1967 ) . For his research on the book he had spent a year living and riding with the Angels , experiencing their lives and hearing their stories first-hand . Previously a relatively conventional journalist , with the publication in 1970 of The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved he became a counter cultural figure , with his own brand of New Journalism which he termed `` Gonzo '' , an experimental style of journalism where reporters involve themselves in the action to such a degree that they become central figures of their stories . The work he remains best known for , Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas : A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream ( 1971 ) , constitutes a rumination on the failure of the 1960s counterculture movement . It was first serialized in Rolling Stone , a magazine with which Thompson would be long associated , and was released as a film starring Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro and directed by Terry Gilliam in 1998 .   Politically minded , Thompson ran unsuccessfully for sheriff of Pitkin County , Colorado , in 1970 , on the Freak Power ticket . He became well known for his inveterate hatred of Richard Nixon , who he claimed represented `` that dark , venal , and incurably violent side of the American character '' and whom he characterized in Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail ' 72 . Thompson 's output notably declined from the mid-1970s , as he struggled with the consequences of fame , and he complained that he could no longer merely report on events as he was too easily recognized . He was also known for his lifelong use of alcohol and illegal drugs , his love of firearms , and his iconoclastic contempt for authoritarianism . He remarked : `` I hate to advocate drugs , alcohol , violence , or insanity to anyone , but they 've always worked for me . ''   After a bout of health problems , Thompson committed suicide at the age of 67 . In accordance with his wishes , his ashes were fired out of a cannon in a ceremony funded by his friend Johnny Depp and attended by friends including then-Senator John Kerry and Jack Nicholson . Hari Kunzru wrote that `` the true voice of Thompson is revealed to be that of American moralist ... one who often makes himself ugly to expose the ugliness he sees around him . ''


Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas : A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream is a novel by Hunter S. Thompson , illustrated by Ralph Steadman . The book is a roman à clef , rooted in autobiographical incidents . The story follows its protagonist , Raoul Duke , and his attorney , Dr. Gonzo , as they descend on Las Vegas to chase the American Dream through a drug-induced haze , all the while ruminating on the failure of the 1960s countercultural movement . The work is Thompson 's most famous book , and is noted for its lurid descriptions of illegal drug use and its early retrospective on the culture of the 1960s . Its popularization of Thompson 's highly subjective blend of fact and fiction has become known as gonzo journalism . The novel first appeared as a two-part series in Rolling Stone magazine in 1971 , was published as a book in 1972 . It was later adapted into a film of the same name in 1998 by Terry Gilliam , starring Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro who portrayed Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo , respectively .


Ben Whishaw Benjamin John `` Ben '' Whishaw ( born 14 October 1980 ) is an English actor . He is known for his stage role as Hamlet ; his roles in the television series Nathan Barley , Criminal Justice , The Hour and London Spy ; and film roles including Perfume : The Story of a Murderer ( 2006 ) , I 'm Not There ( 2007 ) , Bright Star ( 2009 ) , Brideshead Revisited ( 2008 ) , Cloud Atlas ( 2012 ) , The Lobster ( 2015 ) , Suffragette ( 2015 ) and The Danish Girl ( 2015 ) . He has also played the role of Q in the James Bond films starting with Skyfall ( 2012 ) , and was the voice of Paddington Bear in the 2014 film , Paddington .


Bridge of Spies was released in May of 2015.

Bridge of Spies (film) Bridge of Spies is a 2015 historical drama legal thriller film directed and co-produced by Steven Spielberg , written by Matt Charman , Ethan and Joel Coen and stars Tom Hanks , Mark Rylance , Amy Ryan and Alan Alda . Set during the Cold War , the film tells the story of lawyer James B. Donovan , who is entrusted with negotiating the release of Francis Gary Powers -- a U.S. Air Force pilot whose U-2 spy plane was shot down over the Soviet Union in 1960 -- in exchange for Rudolf Abel , a convicted Soviet KGB spy held under the custody of the United States , whom he represented at trial . The name of the film refers to the Glienicke Bridge , which connects Potsdam with Berlin , where the prisoner exchange took place . The film was an international co-production of the United States and Germany .   Bridge of Spies was shot under the working title of St. James Place . Principal photography began on September 8 , 2014 , in Brooklyn , New York City , and the production proceeded at Babelsberg Studios in Potsdam . The film was released by Touchstone Pictures on October 16 , 2015 , in the United States and distributed by 20th Century Fox in other territories . It was a box office success , grossing $ 165 million worldwide , and received positive reviews , garnering praise for its direction , screenplay , acting , score , and production merits . The film received six Academy Award nominations including Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay , and won Best Supporting Actor for Rylance .


Maria Sharapova joined the WTA 7 years after becoming a US resident.

Maria Sharapova Maria Yuryevna Sharapova ( Мари́я Ю́рьевна Шара́пова ; born April 19 , 1987 ) is a Russian professional tennis player . A United States resident since 1994 , Sharapova has competed on the WTA tour since 2001 . She has been ranked world No. 1 in singles by the WTA on five separate occasions , for a total of 21 weeks . She is one of ten women , and the only Russian , to hold the career Grand Slam . She is also an Olympic medalist , having earned silver for Russia in women 's singles at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London .   Sharapova became the world No. 1 for the first time on August 22 , 2005 , at the age of 18 , and last held the ranking for the fifth time for four weeks from June 11 , 2012 , to July 8 , 2012 . Her 35 singles titles and five Grand Slam titles -- two at the French Open and one each at the Australian Open , Wimbledon , and US Open -- rank third among active players , behind Serena and Venus Williams . She won the year-ending WTA Finals in her debut in 2004 . She has also won three doubles titles .   Despite an injury-prone career , Sharapova has achieved a rare level of longevity in the women 's game . She won at least one singles title a year from 2003 until 2015 , a streak only bested by Steffi Graf , Martina Navratilova , and Chris Evert . Several tennis pundits and former players have called Sharapova one of tennis 's best competitors , with John McEnroe calling her one of the best the sport has ever seen .   Sharapova has been featured in a number of modeling assignments , including a feature in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue . She appeared in many advertisements , including those for Nike , Prince , and Canon , being the face of several fashion houses , most notably Cole Haan . Since February 2007 , she has been a United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador , concerned specifically with the Chernobyl Recovery and Development Programme . In June 2011 , she was named one of the `` 30 Legends of Women 's Tennis : Past , Present and Future '' by Time and in March 2012 was named one of the `` 100 Greatest of All Time '' by Tennis Channel . According to Forbes , she has been named highest paid female athlete in the world for 11 consecutive years and earned 285 million including prize money since she turned pro in 2001 .   In March 2016 , Sharapova revealed she had failed a drug test at the 2016 Australian Open on January 26 , 2016 . She had tested positive for meldonium , a substance that had been banned , effective January 1 , 2016 by the World Anti-Doping Agency ( WADA ) . On June 8 , 2016 , she was suspended from playing tennis for two years by the International Tennis Federation ( ITF ) . On October 4 , 2016 , the suspension was reduced to 15 months , starting from the date of the failed test . She returned to the WTA tour on April 26 , 2017 at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix .


Tesla, Inc. refuses to make sport utility vehicles.

Tesla, Inc. Tesla , Inc. ( formerly named Tesla Motors ) is a major American automaker , energy storage company , and solar panel manufacturer based in Palo Alto , California . The company was initially founded in 2003 by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning , although the company also considers Elon Musk , JB Straubel , and Ian Wright amongst its co-founders . The company specializes in electric cars , Lithium-ion battery energy storage , and , through their SolarCity subsidiary , residential solar panels .   Tesla first gained widespread attention following its production of the Tesla Roadster , the first electric sports car , in 2008 . The company 's second vehicle , the Model S , an electric luxury sedan , debuted in 2012 and is built at the Tesla Factory in California . The Model S has been the world 's best-selling plug-in electric car for two years in a row , 2015 and 2016 . Its global sales achieved the 150,000 unit milestone in November 2016 , four years and five months after its introduction . , the Model S ranks as the world 's all-time second best-selling plug-in after the Nissan Leaf . The Model S was then followed in September 2015 by the Model X , a crossover SUV . Tesla 's next vehicle is the Model 3 , which was unveiled in March 2016 . It is slated for release in 2017 with a base price of , before any government incentives .   , Tesla has sold over 186,000 electric cars worldwide since delivery of its first Tesla Roadster in 2008 , making the carmaker the second largest global pure electric car manufacturer after the Renault-Nissan Alliance . For two years running , 2015 and 2016 , Tesla ranked as the world 's second best selling manufacturer of plug-in electric cars after BYD Auto . Musk , the CEO , has said that he envisions Tesla as a technology company and independent automaker , aimed at eventually offering electric cars at prices affordable to the average consumer .   Tesla has a network of high-powered Superchargers located across North America , Europe and Asia for Tesla vehicles . The company also operates a Destination Charging program , under which shops , restaurants and other venues are offered fast chargers for their customers . Although Tesla operates a number of production and assembly plants , the company 's most iconic facility is the Gigafactory 1 near Reno , Nevada , where Panasonic builds 21-70 cells for Tesla batteries . Tesla also manufactures the Tesla Powerwall , Powerpack batteries , and solar panels ( in varying form factors ) for home and industry applications . Elon Musk owned 20.8 % stake in the company as of March 2017 .


Tesla Model X The Tesla Model X is a full-sized , all-electric , luxury , crossover SUV made by Tesla Inc. that uses falcon wing doors for access to the second and third row seats . The prototype was unveiled at Tesla 's design studios in Los Angeles on February 9 , 2012 . The Model X has an official EPA rated range , and the combined fuel economy equivalent and energy consumption for the AWD P90D was rated at 89 mpg-e ( 23 kWh/100 km or 39 kWh/100 mi ) .   The Model X was developed from the full-sized sedan platform of the Tesla Model S ; both are being produced at the Tesla Factory in Fremont , California . First deliveries of the Model X began in September 2015 . , global deliveries totaled more than 25,000 units , and just after one full year on the market , the Model X ranked seventh among the world 's best-selling plug-in cars .


Tyler, The Creator died on March 6, 1991.

Tyler, The Creator Tyler Gregory Okonma ( born March 6 , 1991 ) , better known by his stage name Tyler , The Creator , is an American rapper , record producer , and music video director . Born in Ladera Heights , California , he rose to prominence as the leader and co-founder of the alternative hip hop collective Odd Future and has rapped on and produced songs for nearly every Odd Future release . Okonma creates all the artwork for the group 's releases and designs the group 's clothing and other merchandise as well .   After releasing his debut album Goblin under XL Recordings , in April 2011 , he signed a joint venture deal for him and his label Odd Future Records , with RED Distribution and Sony Music Entertainment . Following that he released his second studio album Wolf , which was met with generally positive reviews and debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200 selling 90,000 copies in its first week . He has his own clothing company , called Golf Wang , started in 2011 , and a carnival , named Camp Flog Gnaw , hosted annually since 2012 . He runs his own streaming service Golf Media ; it contains original scripted series from Tyler himself and Camp Flog Gnaw streams there yearly .


Wolf (Tyler, The Creator album) Wolf is the second studio album by American rapper Tyler , The Creator . It was released on April 2 , 2013 , by Odd Future Records and RED Distribution . Wolf contains the elements that set in a different direction compared to his other materials such as Bastard ( 2009 ) and Goblin ( 2011 ) respectively , which featured more violent content , while the album features a more production based sound and different themes . The album features guest appearances from Mike G , Domo Genesis , Earl Sweatshirt , Left Brain , Hodgy Beats , Erykah Badu and Pharrell , among others . The album was produced by Tyler , The Creator himself , except for the final track .   The album was supported by lead single `` Domo23 '' . Wolf received generally positive reviews from critics and debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 , selling 89,000 copies in its first week .


The Fifth Element was the highest-grossing French film in the international box office until the release of The Intouchables in 2008.

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


Julia Louis-Dreyfus plays Selina Meyer in Seinfeld.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus Julia Scarlett Elizabeth Louis-Dreyfus ( -LSB- ˈluːi_ˈdraɪfəs -RSB- born January 13 , 1961 ) is an American actress , comedian , and producer . She is known for her work in television comedy , including Saturday Night Live ( 1982 -- 85 ) , Seinfeld ( 1989 -- 98 ) , The New Adventures of Old Christine ( 2006 -- 10 ) , and Veep ( 2012 -- present ) . Louis-Dreyfus holds several records for most Primetime Emmy Award wins and nominations .   Louis-Dreyfus broke into comedy as a performer in The Practical Theatre Company in Chicago , Illinois , which led to her casting in the sketch show Saturday Night Live from 1982 to 1985 . Her breakthrough came in 1990 with a nine-season run playing Elaine Benes on Seinfeld , one of the most critically and commercially successful sitcoms of all time . Other notable television roles include Christine Campbell in The New Adventures of Old Christine , which had a five-season run on CBS , and her role as Selina Meyer in Veep , which has recently been renewed by HBO for a sixth season . Louis-Dreyfus ' film roles have included Hannah and Her Sisters ( 1986 ) , National Lampoon 's Christmas Vacation ( 1989 ) , Deconstructing Harry ( 1997 ) , and Enough Said ( 2013 ) . She has voiced roles in several animated films , including A Bug 's Life ( 1998 ) and Planes ( 2013 ) .   Louis-Dreyfus has received nine Emmy Awards , seven for acting and two for producing , with a total of 22 nominations throughout her career . She has also received a Golden Globe Award , seven Screen Actors Guild Awards , five American Comedy Awards , and two Critics ' Choice Television Awards . Louis-Dreyfus received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010 , and was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2014 . In 2016 , Time named Louis-Dreyfus one of the 100 most influential people in the world on the annual Time 100 list .


Giancarlo Stanton was in the MLB draft in 2007.

Giancarlo Stanton Giancarlo Cruz Michael Stanton ( born November 8 , 1989 ) is an American professional baseball left fielder and right fielder for the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball ( MLB ) . Prior to 2012 , he was known as Mike Stanton .   Stanton graduated from Notre Dame High School , before he was selected by the Marlins in the 2007 MLB draft . Stanton made his MLB debut with the Marlins in June 2010 . He is a three-time MLB All-Star and was the Hank Aaron Award winner for the National League in 2014 after leading the league in home runs . In November 2014 , the Marlins signed Stanton to the richest contract in sports history , worth $ 325 million over 13 years .


Judi Dench missed out on the chance for a role in Chocolat.

Chocolat (2000 film) Chocolat ( -LSB- ʃɔkɔla -RSB- ) is a 2000 British-American romantic comedy-drama film based on the novel of the same name by Joanne Harris , and was directed by Lasse Hallström . Adapted by screenwriter Robert Nelson Jacobs , Chocolat tells the story of a young mother , played by Juliette Binoche , who arrives at the fictional , repressed French village of Lansquenet-sous-Tannes with her six-year-old daughter and opens La Chocolaterie Maya , a small chocolaterie . Her chocolate quickly begins to change the lives of the townspeople .   Filming took place between May and August 2000 . The film was shot in the village of Flavigny-sur-Ozerain in Burgundy , France , and on the Rue De L'ancienne Poste in Beynac-et-Cazenac on the Dordogne River in Dordogne , France . The river scenes were filmed at Fonthill Lake at Fonthill Bishop in Wiltshire , England and interior scenes at Shepperton Studios , Surrey , England .   The film was nominated for five Academy Awards , including Best Picture . It was also nominated for eight BAFTAs , and four Golden Globes . Judi Dench won a Screen Actors Guild Award for her performance in the film .


Judi Dench Dame Judith Olivia Dench ( born 9 December 1934 ) , known as Judi Dench , is an English actress and author . Dench made her professional debut in 1957 with the Old Vic Company . Over the following few years , she performed in several of Shakespeare 's plays in such roles as Ophelia in Hamlet , Juliet in Romeo and Juliet , and Lady Macbeth in Macbeth . Although most of her work during this period was in theatre , she also branched into film work and won a BAFTA Award as Most Promising Newcomer . She drew strong reviews for her leading role in the musical Cabaret in 1968 .   Over the next two decades , Dench established herself as one of the most significant British theatre performers , working for the National Theatre Company and the Royal Shakespeare Company . She achieved success in television during this period , in the series A Fine Romance from 1981 until 1984 , and in 1992 with a starring role in the romantic comedy series As Time Goes By . Her film appearances were infrequent and included supporting roles in major films such as A Room with a View ( 1986 ) supporting Maggie Smith , before she rose to international fame as M in GoldenEye ( 1995 ) , a role she continued to play in James Bond films until Skyfall ( 2012 ) .   A seven-time Oscar nominee , Dench won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Queen Elizabeth I in Shakespeare in Love and has received nominations for her roles in Mrs Brown ( 1997 ) , Chocolat ( 2000 ) , Iris ( 2001 ) , Mrs Henderson Presents ( 2005 ) , Notes on a Scandal ( 2006 ) , and Philomena ( 2013 ) . She has also received many award nominations for her acting in theatre , film and television ; her competitive awards include six British Academy Film Awards , four BAFTA TV Awards , seven Olivier Awards , two Screen Actors Guild Awards , two Golden Globes , and a Tony Award . She has also received the BAFTA Fellowship ( 2001 ) and the Special Olivier Award ( 2004 ) . In June 2011 , she received a fellowship from the British Film Institute ( BFI ) . Dench is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts ( FRSA ) .


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


Fujitsu iPAD The Fujitsu iPAD is a lightweight handheld device that was introduced by Fujitsu , in 2002 . It runs Microsoft 's CE.NET operating system . It supports 802.11 b wireless LAN to connect wirelessly with other company infrastructure . The device can support inventory management as well as credit card payments . In January 2010 , when Apple announced the Apple iPad , there was a naming controversy between the two devices . To settle the trademark infringement allegation , Apple purchased the trademark rights from Fujitsu . Some trademark analysts estimate that Apple paid Fujitsu over US$ 4 million in exchange for the March 17 , 2010 assignment of Fujitsu 's iPad trademark rights to Apple .


Liberia Liberia -LSB- laɪˈbɪəriə -RSB- , officially the Republic of Liberia , is a country on the West African coast . It is bordered by Sierra Leone to its west , Guinea to its north and Ivory Coast to its east . It covers an area of 111369 km2 and has a population of 4,503,000 people . English is the official language and over 20 indigenous languages are spoken , representing the numerous tribes who make up more than 95 % of the population . The country 's capital and largest city is Monrovia .   Forests on the coastline are composed mostly of salt-tolerant mangrove trees , while the more sparsely populated inland has forests opening onto a plateau of drier grasslands . The climate is equatorial , with significant rainfall during the May -- October rainy season and harsh harmattan winds the remainder of the year . Liberia possesses about forty percent of the remaining Upper Guinean rainforest . It was an important producer of rubber in the early 20th century .   The Republic of Liberia began as a settlement of the American Colonization Society ( ACS ) , who believed blacks would face better chances for freedom in Africa than in the United States . The country declared its independence on July 26 , 1847 . The U.S. did not recognize Liberia 's independence until during the American Civil War on February 5 , 1862 . Between January 7 , 1822 and the American Civil War , more than 15,000 freed and free-born blacks , who faced legislated limits in the U.S. , and 3,198 Afro-Caribbeans , relocated to the settlement . The black settlers carried their culture with them to Liberia . The Liberian constitution and flag were modeled after those of the U.S. On January 3 , 1848 , Joseph Jenkins Roberts , a wealthy , free-born African American from Virginia who settled in Liberia , was elected as Liberia 's first president after the people proclaimed independence .   Liberia is the only African republic to have self-proclaimed independence without gaining independence through revolt from any other power , and is Africa 's first and oldest modern republic . Liberia retained its independence during the Scramble for Africa . During World War II , Liberia supported the United States war efforts against Germany and in turn the U.S. invested in considerable infrastructure in Liberia to help its war effort , which also aided the country in modernizing and improving its major air transportation facilities . In addition , President William Tubman encouraged economic changes . Internationally , Liberia was a founding member of the League of Nations , United Nations and the Organisation of African Unity .   Political tensions from the rule of William R. Tolbert resulted in a military coup in 1980 that overthrew his leadership soon after his death , marking the beginning of years-long political instability . Five years of military rule by the People 's Redemption Council and five years of civilian rule by the National Democratic Party of Liberia were followed by the First and Second Liberian Civil Wars . These resulted in the deaths and displacement of more than half a million people and devastated Liberia 's economy . A peace agreement in 2003 led to democratic elections in 2005 , in which Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was elected President . Recovery proceeds but about 85 % of the population live below the international poverty line . Liberia 's economic and political stability was threatened in the 2010s by an Ebola virus epidemic ; it originated in Guinea in December 2013 , entered Liberia in March 2014 , and was declared officially ended on May 8 , 2015 .


Sylvester Stallone Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone ( -LSB- stəˈloʊn -RSB- -LSB- stalˈloːne -RSB- ; born July 6 , 1946 ) is an American actor , filmmaker , and screenwriter . He is well known for his Hollywood action roles , including boxer Rocky Balboa , the title character of the Rocky series ' seven films from 1976 to 2015 ; soldier John Rambo from the four Rambo films , released between 1982 and 2008 ; and Barney Ross in the three The Expendables films from 2010 to 2014 . He wrote or co-wrote most of the 14 films in all three franchises , and directed many of the films .   Stallone 's film Rocky was inducted into the National Film Registry as well as having its film props placed in the Smithsonian Museum . Stallone 's use of the front entrance to the Philadelphia Museum of Art in the Rocky series led the area to be nicknamed the Rocky Steps . Philadelphia has a statue of his Rocky character placed permanently near the museum . It was announced on December 7 , 2010 that Stallone was voted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in the non-participant category .   In 1977 , Stallone was nominated for two Academy Awards for Rocky , Best Original Screenplay and Best Actor . He became the third man in history to receive these two nominations for the same film , after Charles Chaplin and Orson Welles . He received critical raves , as well as his first Golden Globe Award win and third Academy Award nomination , for reprising the role of Rocky Balboa in Ryan Coogler 's 2015 film Creed .


Uzbekistan Uzbekistan ( -LSB- ʊzˈbɛkᵻˌstæn , _ - ˌstɑːn -RSB- , -LSB- ʊzˌbɛkᵻˈstɑːn , _ ʌz - , _ - ˈstæn -RSB- ) , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan ( Oʻzbekiston Respublikasi , Ўзбекистон Республикаси Республика Узбекистан ) , is one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world . Located in Central Asia , it is a unitary , constitutional , presidential republic , comprising twelve provinces , one autonomous republic and a capital city . Uzbekistan is bordered by five landlocked countries : Kazakhstan to the north ; Tajikistan to the southeast ; Kyrgyzstan to the northeast ; Afghanistan to the south ; and Turkmenistan to the southwest .   Once part of the Turkic Khaganate and later Timurid Empires , the region that today includes the Republic of Uzbekistan was conquered in the early 16th century by Eastern Turkic-speaking nomads . The area was gradually incorporated into the Russian Empire during the 19th century , and in 1924 what is now Uzbekistan became a bordered constituent republic of the Soviet Union , known as the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic ( Uzbek SSR ) . Following the breakup of the Soviet Union , it declared independence as the Republic of Uzbekistan on 31 August 1991 ( officially celebrated the following day ) .   Uzbekistan is officially a democratic , secular , unitary , constitutional republic with a diverse cultural heritage . The country 's official language is Uzbek , a Turkic language written in the Latin alphabet and spoken natively by approximately 85 % of the population ; however , Russian remains in widespread use . Uzbeks constitute 81 % of the population , followed by Russians ( 5.4 % ) , Tajiks ( 4.0 % ) , Kazakhs ( 3.0 % ) , and others ( 6.5 % ) . A majority of Uzbeks are non-denominational Muslims . Uzbekistan is a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States ( CIS ) , Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe ( OSCE ) , UN , and the SCO . While officially a democratic republic , non-governmental human rights organizations define Uzbekistan as `` an authoritarian state with limited civil rights '' .   Uzbekistan 's economy relies mainly on commodity production , including cotton , gold , uranium , and natural gas . Despite the declared objective of transition to a market economy , its government continues to maintain economic controls which imports in favour of domestic `` import substitution '' .


The Suite Life Movie The Suite Life Movie is a 2011 science fiction comedy-drama film directed by Sean McNamara , written by Michael Saltzman , and starring Dylan and Cole Sprouse , Brenda Song , Debby Ryan , Matthew Timmons , John Ducey , Matthew Glave , and Phill Lewis . The Disney Channel Original Movie is based on the pair of Disney Channel sitcoms The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and The Suite Life on Deck created by Danny Kallis and Jim Geoghan . Dylan and Cole Sprouse were also co-producers for the movie . The film premiered on March 25 , 2011 on the Disney Channel . A sneak peek was shown during the Disney Channel Shake It Up New Year 's event .


Antonio Vivaldi Antonio Lucio Vivaldi ( -LSB- anˈtɔːnjo ˈluːtʃo viˈvaldi -RSB- ; 4 March 1678 -- 28 July 1741 ) was an Italian Baroque composer , virtuoso violinist , teacher and cleric . Born in Venice , he is recognized as one of the greatest Baroque composers , and his influence during his lifetime was widespread across Europe . He composed many instrumental concertos , for the violin and a variety of other instruments , as well as sacred choral works and more than forty operas . His best-known work is a series of violin concertos known as The Four Seasons .   Many of his compositions were written for the female music ensemble of the Ospedale della Pietà , a home for abandoned children where Vivaldi ( who had been ordained as a Catholic priest ) was employed from 1703 to 1715 and from 1723 to 1740 . Vivaldi also had some success with expensive stagings of his operas in Venice , Mantua and Vienna . After meeting the Emperor Charles VI , Vivaldi moved to Vienna , hoping for preferment . However , the Emperor died soon after Vivaldi 's arrival , and Vivaldi himself died less than a year later in poverty .


Only Lovers Left Alive is a vampire film.

Only Lovers Left Alive Only Lovers Left Alive is a 2013 internationally co-produced vampire film written and directed by Jim Jarmusch , and starring Tilda Swinton , Tom Hiddleston , Mia Wasikowska , Anton Yelchin , Jeffrey Wright , Slimane Dazi , and John Hurt . A co-production of the United Kingdom and Germany , the film was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival .


Robert Browning Robert Browning ( 7 May 1812 -- 12 December 1889 ) was an English poet and playwright whose mastery of the dramatic monologue made him one of the foremost Victorian poets . His poems are known for their irony , characterization , dark humour , social commentary , historical settings , and challenging vocabulary and syntax .   Browning 's early career began promisingly , but was not a success . The long poem Pauline brought him to the attention of Dante Gabriel Rossetti , and was followed by Paracelsus , which was praised by William Wordsworth and Charles Dickens , but in 1840 the difficult Sordello , which was seen as wilfully obscure , brought his poetry into disrepute . His reputation took more than a decade to recover , during which time he moved away from the Shelleyan forms of his early period and developed a more personal style .   In 1846 Browning married the older poet Elizabeth Barrett , who at the time was considerably better known than himself . So started one of history 's most famous literary marriages . They went to live in Italy , a country he called `` my university '' , and which features frequently in his work . By the time of her death in 1861 , he had published the crucial collection Men and Women . The collection Dramatis Personae and the book-length epic poem The Ring and the Book followed , and made him a leading British poet . He continued to write prolifically , but his reputation today rests largely on the poetry he wrote in this middle period .   When Browning died in 1889 , he was regarded as a sage and philosopher-poet who through his writing had made contributions to Victorian social and political discourse -- as in the poem Caliban upon Setebos , which some critics have seen as a comment on the theory of evolution , which had recently been put forward by Darwin and others . Unusually for a poet , societies for the study of his work were founded while he was still alive . Such Browning Societies remained common in Britain and the United States until the early 20th century .   Browning 's admirers have tended to temper their praise with reservations about the length and difficulty of his most ambitious poems , particularly The Ring and the Book . Nevertheless , they have included such eminent writers as Henry James , Oscar Wilde , George Bernard Shaw , G. K. Chesterton , Ezra Pound , Jorge Luis Borges , and Vladimir Nabokov . Among living writers , Stephen King 's The Dark Tower series and A.S. Byatt 's Possession refer directly to Browning 's work .   Today Browning 's critically most esteemed poems include the monologues Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came , Fra Lippo Lippi , Andrea Del Sarto , and My Last Duchess . His most popular poems include Porphyria 's Lover , How They Brought the Good News from Ghent to Aix , the diptych Meeting at Night , the patriotic Home Thoughts from Abroad , and the children 's poem The Pied Piper of Hamelin . His abortive dinner-party recital of How They Brought The Good News was recorded on an Edison wax cylinder , and is believed to be the oldest surviving recording made in the United Kingdom of a notable person .


Tyra Banks was the first African American model.

Tyra Banks Tyra Lynne Banks ( born December 4 , 1973 ) is an American television personality , producer , businesswoman , actress , author , former model and occasional singer . Born in Inglewood , California , she began her career as a model at age 15 , and was the first African American woman to be featured on the covers of GQ and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue , on which she appeared twice . She was a Victoria 's Secret Angel from 1997 to 2005 . By the early 2000s , Banks was one of the world 's top-earning models .   Banks began acting on television in 1993 on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air , and made her film debut in Higher Learning in 1995 . She had major roles such as Eve in Disney Channel 's Life-Size and Zoe in the box office hit Coyote Ugly . She had small roles in the romantic film Love & Basketball and horror film Halloween : Resurrection , and appeared in television series Gossip Girl and Glee .   In 2003 , Banks created and began presenting the long-running reality television series America 's Next Top Model , which she executive produced and presented for the first twenty-two seasons until the series ' cancellation in October 2015 . She remained executive producer for the revival of the series , and enlisted Rita Ora as host for the twenty-third cycle before reassuming the duties herself for the upcoming twenty-fourth cycle . Banks was the co-creator of True Beauty , and had her own talk show , The Tyra Banks Show , which aired on The CW for five seasons and won two Daytime Emmy awards for Outstanding Talk Show Informative . She co-hosted the talk show FABLife for two months . In 2017 , Banks will replace Nick Cannon as host of America 's Got Talent for its 12th season .   In 2010 , she published a young adult novel titled Modelland , based on her life as a model which topped The New York Times Best Seller list in 2011 . Banks is one of four African Americans and seven women to have repeatedly ranked among the world 's most influential people by TIME magazine .