The main character of Memento uses Polaroid photographs to track information he cannot remember.

Memento (film) Memento is a 2000 American neo-noir psychological thriller film directed and written by Christopher Nolan , and produced by Suzanne and Jennifer Todd . The film 's script was based on a pitch by Jonathan Nolan , who later wrote the story `` Memento Mori '' from the concept . It stars Guy Pearce , Carrie-Anne Moss , and Joe Pantoliano .   Pearce stars as a man who , as a result of a past trauma , suffers from anterograde amnesia , the inability to form new memories and suffers short-term memory loss approximately every five minutes . He is searching for the persons who attacked him and killed his wife , using an intricate system of Polaroid photographs and tattoos to track information he can not remember . Memento is presented as two different sequences of scenes interspersed during the film : a series in black-and-white that is shown chronologically , and a series of color sequences shown in reverse order ( simulating for the audience the mental state of the protagonist ) . The two sequences `` meet '' at the end of the film , producing one complete and cohesive narrative .   Memento premiered on September 5 , 2000 , at the Venice International Film Festival and was released in European theaters starting in October . It became a blockbuster success , being acclaimed by critics who praised its nonlinear narrative structure and motifs of memory , perception , grief , and self-deception , and earning $ 39.7 million over a $ 9 million budget . It received numerous accolades , including Academy Award nominations for Best Original Screenplay and Best Film Editing . The film was subsequently ranked one of the best films of the 2000s by several critics and media outlets .


The Prestige is a 2006 British-American mystery thriller film.

The Prestige (film) The Prestige is a 2006 British-American mystery thriller film directed by Christopher Nolan , from a screenplay adapted by Nolan and his brother Jonathan from Christopher Priest 's 1995 World Fantasy Award-winning novel of the same name . Its story follows Robert Angier and Alfred Borden , rival stage magicians in London at the end of the 19th century . Obsessed with creating the best stage illusion , they engage in competitive one-upmanship with tragic results . The film stars Hugh Jackman as Robert Angier , Christian Bale as Alfred Borden , and David Bowie as Nikola Tesla . It also stars Michael Caine , Scarlett Johansson , Piper Perabo , Andy Serkis , and Rebecca Hall . The film reunites Nolan with actors Bale and Caine from Batman Begins and returning cinematographer Wally Pfister , production designer Nathan Crowley , film score composer David Julyan , and editor Lee Smith .   The film was released on October 20 , 2006 , receiving positive reviews and strong box office results , and received Academy Award nominations for Best Cinematography and Best Art Direction . Along with The Illusionist and Scoop , The Prestige was one of three films released in 2006 to explore the world of stage magicians .


Music fails to include strictly organized compositions.

Music Music is an art form and cultural activity whose medium is sound organized in time . The common elements of music are pitch ( which governs melody and harmony ) , rhythm ( and its associated concepts tempo , meter , and articulation ) , dynamics ( loudness and softness ) , and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture ( which are sometimes termed the `` color '' of a musical sound ) . Different styles or types of music may emphasize , de-emphasize or omit some of these elements . Music is performed with a vast range of instruments and vocal techniques ranging from singing to rapping ; there are solely instrumental pieces , solely vocal pieces ( such as songs without instrumental accompaniment ) and pieces that combine singing and instruments . The word derives from Greek μουσική #Ancient Greek ( mousike ; `` art of the Muses '' ) .   In its most general form , the activities describing music as an art form or cultural activity include the creation of works of music ( songs , tunes , symphonies , and so on ) , the criticism of music , the study of the history of music , and the aesthetic examination of music . Ancient Greek and Indian philosophers defined music as tones ordered horizontally as melodies and vertically as harmonies . Common sayings such as `` the harmony of the spheres '' and `` it is music to my ears '' point to the notion that music is often ordered and pleasant to listen to . However , 20th-century composer John Cage thought that any sound can be music , saying , for example , `` There is no noise , only sound . ''   The creation , performance , significance , and even the definition of music vary according to culture and social context . Indeed , throughout history , some new forms or styles of music have been criticized as `` not being music '' , including Beethoven 's Grosse Fuge string quartet in 1825 , early jazz in the beginning of the 1900s and hardcore punk in the 1980s . There are many types of music , including popular music , traditional music , art music , music written for religious ceremonies and work songs such as chanteys . Music ranges from strictly organized compositions -- such as Classical music symphonies from the 1700s and 1800s , through to spontaneously played improvisational music such as jazz , and avant-garde styles of chance-based contemporary music from the 20th and 21st centuries .   Music can be divided into genres ( e.g. , country music ) and genres can be further divided into subgenres ( e.g. , country blues and pop country are two of the many country subgenres ) , although the dividing lines and relationships between music genres are often subtle , sometimes open to personal interpretation , and occasionally controversial . For example , it can be hard to draw the line between some early 1980s hard rock and heavy metal . Within the arts , music may be classified as a performing art , a fine art or as an auditory art . Music may be played or sung and heard live at a rock concert or orchestra performance , heard live as part of a dramatic work ( a music theater show or opera ) , or it may be recorded and listened to on a radio , MP3 player , CD player , smartphone or as film score or TV show .   In many cultures , music is an important part of people 's way of life , as it plays a key role in religious rituals , rite of passage ceremonies ( e.g. , graduation and marriage ) , social activities ( e.g. , dancing ) and cultural activities ranging from amateur karaoke singing to playing in an amateur funk band or singing in a community choir . People may make music as a hobby , like a teen playing cello in a youth orchestra , or work as a professional musician or singer . The music industry includes the individuals who create new songs and musical pieces ( such as songwriters and composers ) , individuals who perform music ( which include orchestra , jazz band and rock band musicians , singers and conductors ) , individuals who record music ( music producers and sound engineers ) , individuals who organize concert tours , and individuals who sell recordings and sheet music and scores to customers .


Leicester City F.C. have been reality show finalists four times.

Leicester City F.C. Leicester City Football Club ( -LSB- ˌlɛstər_ˈsɪti -RSB- ) , also known as the Foxes , is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester . They compete in the Premier League , England 's highest division of football , and are the former champions winning in the 2015-16 season . Having been promoted as champions of the Football League Championship in 2013 -- 14 , this signalled a return to the top flight of English football after a decade away .   The club was founded in 1884 as Leicester Fosse F.C. , playing on a field near Fosse Road . They moved to Filbert Street in 1891 , were elected to the Football League in 1894 and adopted the name Leicester City in 1919 . They moved to the nearby Walkers Stadium in 2002 , which was renamed the King Power Stadium after a change of ownership in 2011 .   Leicester City won the 2015 -- 16 Premier League , their first top-level football championship . They are one of only six clubs to have won the Premier League since its inception in 1992 . A number of newspapers described their title win as the greatest sporting upset ever , considering at the start of the season they were favourites to face relegation . Multiple bookmakers had never paid out at such long odds for any sport . Due to the magnitude of the club 's title win , it went down in English football history as one of the game 's finest ever achievements . The club 's previous highest ever finish was second place in the top flight , in Division One in 1928 -- 29 . Throughout Leicester 's history , they have spent all but one season within the top two leagues of English football . They hold a joint-highest seven second-tier titles ( six Second Division and one Championship ) .   The club have been FA Cup finalists four times , in 1948 -- 49 , 1960 -- 61 , 1962 -- 63 and 1968 -- 69 . This is a tournament record for the most defeats in the final without having won the competition . City have several promotions to their name , two play-off final wins , and one League One title . In 1971 , they won the FA Community Shield , and in 2016 , they were runners up . They have also won the League Cup three times in 1964 , 1997 and 2000 , as well as being runners up in 1964 -- 65 and 1999 . In addition , Leicester City have competed in European football , with their appearances coming in the 1961 -- 62 European Cup Winners ' Cup , 1997 -- 98 UEFA Cup , 2000 -- 01 UEFA Cup , and most recently the 2016 -- 17 UEFA Champions League , reaching the quarter-finals of the competition in that year .


Jennifer Lawrence's films have grossed over $5.5 million worldwide.

Jennifer Lawrence Jennifer Shrader Lawrence ( born August 15 , 1990 ) is an American actress . Since 2015 , Lawrence has been the highest-paid actress in the world , and her films have grossed over $ 5.5 billion worldwide . She appeared in Time 100 most influential people in the world in 2013 and Forbes Celebrity 100 the following year and in 2016 .   During her childhood , Lawrence performed in church plays and school musicals . When she was 14 , a talent scout spotted her in New York . She then moved to Los Angeles and began her acting career by playing guest roles in television shows . Her first major role came as a main cast member on the sitcom The Bill Engvall Show ( 2007 -- 2009 ) . Lawrence made her film debut with a supporting role in Garden Party ( 2008 ) , and had her breakthrough playing a poverty-stricken teenager in the independent drama Winter 's Bone ( 2010 ) . She achieved wider recognition for playing the mutant Mystique in X-Men : First Class ( 2011 ) , a role she reprised in later installments of the series .   Lawrence 's fame continued to grow with her starring role as Katniss Everdeen in the Hunger Games film series ( 2012 -- 2015 ) , which established her as the highest-grossing action heroine of all time . She went on to earn various accolades from her collaborations with director David O. Russell . Her performance as a depressed widow in the romance film Silver Linings Playbook ( 2012 ) received an Academy Award for Best Actress , making her the second youngest Best Actress Oscar winner . Lawrence subsequently won a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for playing a troubled wife in the black comedy American Hustle ( 2013 ) . She also received Golden Globe Awards for her roles in both of these films and for playing the eponymous inventor in the biopic Joy ( 2015 ) .   Lawrence is known in the media for being a vocal advocate of feminism and gender equality , and is the founder of the Jennifer Lawrence Foundation through which she supports various charitable organizations .


Adrien Broner is a professional American boxer.

Adrien Broner Adrien Jerome Broner ( born July 28 , 1989 ) is an American professional boxer . He is a former four-weight world champion , having held the WBO junior lightweight title from 2011 to 2012 ; the WBC lightweight title from 2012 to 2013 ; the WBA welterweight title in 2014 ; and the WBA super lightweight title from 2015 to 2016 . The Ring magazine previously ranked Broner as the fifth best boxer in the world , pound for pound , in December 2012 .


Pompeii Pompeii was an ancient Roman town-city near modern Naples , in the Campania region of Italy , in the territory of the comune of Pompei . Pompeii , along with Herculaneum and many villas in the suzrrounding area , was mostly destroyed and buried under 4 to of volcanic ash and pumice in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD .   Researchers believe that the town was founded in the seventh or sixth century BC by the Osci or Oscans . It came under the domination of Rome in the 4th century BC , and was conquered and became a Roman colony in 80 BC after it joined an unsuccessful rebellion against the Roman Republic . By the time of its destruction , 160 years later , its population was estimated at 11,000 people , and the city had a complex water system , an amphitheatre , gymnasium , and a port .   The eruption destroyed the city , killing its inhabitants and burying it under tons of ash . Evidence for the destruction originally came from a surviving letter by Pliny the Younger , who saw the eruption from a distance and described the death of his uncle Pliny the Elder , an admiral of the Roman fleet , who tried to rescue citizens . The site was lost for about 1,500 years until its initial rediscovery in 1599 and broader rediscovery almost 150 years later by Spanish engineer Rocque Joaquin de Alcubierre in 1748 . The objects that lay beneath the city have been preserved for more than a millennium because of the long lack of air and moisture . These artifacts provide an extraordinarily detailed insight into the life of a city during the Pax Romana . During the excavation , plaster was used to fill in the voids in the ash layers that once held human bodies . This allowed archaeologists to see the exact position the person was in when he or she died .   Pompeii has been a tourist destination for over 250 years . Today it has UNESCO World Heritage Site status and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Italy , with approximately 2.5 million visitors every year .


A district of London is Stratford, London.

Stratford, London Stratford is a district of east London , England , within the London Borough of Newham .   The area was part of the Ancient Parish and subsequent County Borough of West Ham , which became the western half of the modern borough in 1965 . Historically an agrarian settlement in the county of Essex , Stratford was transformed into an industrial suburb following the introduction of the railway in 1839 .   The late 20th Century was a period of severe economic decline , eventually reversed by regeneration associated with the 2012 Summer Olympics , for which Stratford 's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park was the principal venue .   Stratford is now East London 's primary retail , cultural and leisure centre . It has also become the second most significant ( after Canary Wharf ) business location in the east of the capital .


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


Caroline, Princess of Hanover is wedded to a descendant.

Caroline, Princess of Hanover Caroline , Princess of Hanover ( Caroline Louise Marguerite ; born 23 January 1957 ) , is the eldest child of Rainier III , Prince of Monaco , and American actress Grace Kelly . She is the elder sister of Prince Albert II and Princess Stéphanie . Until the births of her niece and nephew Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques of Monaco in December 2014 she had been heir presumptive to the throne of Monaco since 2005 , a position which she previously held from 1957 to 1958 .   Caroline is married to Ernst August , Prince of Hanover ( born 1954 ) , the heir to the former throne of the Kingdom of Hanover , as well as the heir male of George III of the United Kingdom .


Russell Crowe Russell Ira Crowe ( born 7 April 1964 ) is an actor , film producer and musician . Although a New Zealand citizen , he has lived most of his life in Australia . He came to international attention for his role as the Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius in the 2000 historical epic film Gladiator , directed by Ridley Scott , for which Crowe won an Academy Award for Best Actor , a Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor , an Empire Award for Best Actor and a London Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor and 10 further nominations for best actor .   Crowe appeared as the tobacco firm whistle blower Jeffrey Wigand in the 1999 film The Insider , for which he received five awards as best actor and seven nominations in the same category . In 2001 , Crowe 's portrayal of mathematician and Nobel Prize winner John F. Nash in the biopic A Beautiful Mind brought him numerous awards , including a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role , a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role .   Crowe 's other films include Romper Stomper ( 1992 ) , L.A. Confidential ( 1997 ) , Master and Commander : The Far Side of the World ( 2003 ) , Cinderella Man ( 2005 ) , American Gangster ( 2007 ) , State of Play ( 2009 ) , Robin Hood ( 2010 ) , Les Misérables ( 2012 ) , Man of Steel ( 2013 ) and Noah ( 2014 ) . Crowe 's work has earned him several accolades during his career and including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame , three consecutive Academy Award nominations ( 1999 -- 2001 ) , one Golden Globe Award for Best Actor , one BAFTA , and an Academy Award . Crowe is also the co-owner of the South Sydney Rabbitohs , an Australian National Rugby League team .


The Illusionist was a commercial success.

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


William Jennings Bryan turned down being Secretary of State for his entire life.

William Jennings Bryan William Jennings Bryan ( March 19 , 1860 -- July 26 , 1925 ) was an American orator and politician from Nebraska , and a dominant force in the populist wing of the Democratic Party , standing three times as the Party 's nominee for President of the United States ( 1896 , 1900 , and 1908 ) . He served two terms as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Nebraska and was United States Secretary of State under President Woodrow Wilson ( 1913 -- 1915 ) . He resigned because of his pacifist position on World War I. Bryan was a devout Presbyterian , a strong advocate of popular democracy , and an enemy of the banks and the gold standard . He demanded `` Free Silver '' because he believed it undermined the evil `` Money Power '' and put more cash in the hands of the common people . He was a peace advocate , a supporter of Prohibition , and an opponent of Darwinism on religious and humanitarian grounds . With his deep , commanding voice and wide travels , he was perhaps the best-known orator and lecturer of the era . Because of his faith in the wisdom of the common people , he was called `` The Great Commoner '' .   In the intensely fought 1896 and 1900 elections , he was defeated by William McKinley but retained control of the Democratic Party . With over 500 speeches in 1896 , Bryan invented the national stumping tour in an era when other presidential candidates stayed home . In his three presidential bids , he promoted Free Silver in 1896 , anti-imperialism in 1900 , and trust-busting in 1908 , calling on Democrats to fight the trusts ( big corporations ) and big banks , and embrace anti-elitist ideals of republicanism . President Wilson appointed him Secretary of State in 1913 . After the Lusitania was torpedoed in 1915 , Wilson made strong demands on Germany that Bryan disagreed with , resigning in protest as a pacifist . After 1920 , he turned to Christian fundamentalism ; he supported Prohibition and attacked Darwinism and evolution , most famously at the Scopes Trial in 1925 in Tennessee . Five days after the conclusion of the Scopes case , Bryan died in his sleep .


Yung Rich Nation featured only Young Thug.

Yung Rich Nation Yung Rich Nation is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Migos . It was released on July 31 , 2015 , by Quality Control Music , 300 Entertainment and Atlantic Records . The album features guest appearances from Chris Brown and Young Thug , while the production was handled by Zaytoven , Honorable C.N.O.T.E. and Murda Beatz , among others .


Billie Jean is a song by Michael Jackson.

Billie Jean `` Billie Jean '' is a song by American singer Michael Jackson . It is the second single from the singer 's sixth solo album , Thriller ( 1982 ) . It was written and composed by Jackson and produced by Jackson and Quincy Jones . There are contradictory claims on the meaning of the song 's lyrics . One suggests that they are derived from a real-life experience , in which a female fan claimed that Jackson ( or one of his brothers ) had fathered her twins . However , Michael Jackson stated that `` Billie Jean '' was based on groupies he had encountered . The song is well known for its distinctive bassline played by Louis Johnson , the standard drum beat heard in the beginning , the repetition of `` Billie Jean is not my lover '' towards the end of the song and Michael Jackson 's vocal hiccups . The song was mixed 91 times by audio engineer Bruce Swedien before it was finalized , though he reportedly went with the second mix as the final product .   The song became a success ; it was one of the best-selling singles of 1983 and is one of the best-selling singles worldwide . The song topped both the US and UK charts simultaneously . It also topped the charts of Switzerland and reached the top ten in Austria , Italy , New Zealand , Norway and Sweden . `` Billie Jean '' was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America ( RIAA ) in 1989 . Rolling Stone magazine placed the song in the 58th spot on its list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time .   Awarded numerous honours -- including two Grammy Awards , one American Music Award , and an induction into the Music Video Producers Hall of Fame -- the song and corresponding music video helped propel Thriller to the status of best-selling album of all time . The song was promoted with a short film that broke down MTV 's racial barrier as the first video by a black artist to be aired in heavy rotation . Also , Jackson 's Emmy-nominated performance on Motown 25 : Yesterday , Today , Forever , in which Jackson premiered his `` moonwalk '' , helped to popularize the song . It was additionally promoted through Jackson 's Pepsi commercials . Covered by modern artists , `` Billie Jean '' sealed Jackson 's status as an international pop icon .


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


Gadsden flag The Gadsden flag is a historical American flag with a yellow field depicting a rattlesnake coiled and ready to strike . Positioned below the rattlesnake are the words `` DONT TREAD ON ME '' . The flag is named after American general and politician Christopher Gadsden ( 1724 -- 1805 ) , who designed it in 1775 during the American Revolution . It was used by the Continental Marines as an early motto flag , along with the Moultrie flag .   Modern uses of the Gadsden flag include political movements such as libertarianism and the American Tea Party as well as American soccer supporter groups , including Sam 's Army and the American Outlaws since the late 1980s .


Hungary Hungary ( -LSB- ˈhʌŋɡəri -RSB- Magyarország -LSB- ˈmɒɟɒrorsaːɡ -RSB- ) is a unitary parliamentary republic in Central Europe . It covers an area of 93,030 km2 , situated in the Carpathian Basin , and is bordered by Slovakia to the north , Romania to the east , Serbia to the south , Croatia to the southwest , Slovenia to the west , Austria to the northwest , and Ukraine to the northeast . With about 10 million inhabitants , Hungary is a medium-sized member state of the European Union . The official language is Hungarian , which is the most widely spoken non-Indo-European language in Europe . Hungary 's capital and largest metropolis is Budapest , a significant economic hub , classified as a global city . Major urban areas include Debrecen , Szeged , Miskolc , Pécs and Győr .   Following centuries of successive habitation by Celts , Romans , Slavs , Gepids and Avars , the foundation of Hungary was laid in the late 9th century by the Hungarian grand prince Árpád in the conquest of the Carpathian Basin . His great-grandson Stephen I ascended to the throne in 1000 , converting the country to a Christian kingdom . By the 12th century , Hungary became a middle power within the Western world , reaching a golden age by the 15th century . Following the Battle of Mohács in 1526 and about 150 years of partial Ottoman occupation ( 1541 -- 1699 ) , Hungary came under Habsburg rule , and later formed the great power Austro -- Hungarian Empire together with Austria .   Hungary 's current borders were established in 1920 by the Treaty of Trianon after World War I , when the country lost 71 % of its territory , 58 % of its population , and 32 % of ethnic Hungarians . Following the interwar period , Hungary joined the Axis Powers in World War II , suffering significant damage and casualties . Hungary became a satellite state of the Soviet Union , which contributed to the establishment of a four-decade-long communist dictatorship ( 1947 -- 1989 ) . The country gained widespread international attention regarding the Revolution of 1956 and the seminal opening of its previously-restricted border with Austria in 1989 , which accelerated the collapse of the Eastern Bloc . On 23 October 1989 , Hungary again became a democratic parliamentary republic .   In the 21st century , Hungary is a middle power and has the world 's 57th largest economy by nominal GDP , as well as the 58th largest by PPP , out of 188 countries measured by the IMF . As a substantial actor in several industrial and technological sectors , it is both the world 's 36th largest exporter and importer of goods . Hungary is a high-income economy with a very high standard of living . It keeps up a social security and universal health care system , and a tuition-free university education . Hungary performs well in international rankings : it is 20th in quality of life , 25th in inequality-adjusted human development , 32nd in the Social Progress Index , and ranks as the 19th safest country in the world .   Hungary joined the European Union in 2004 and has been part of the Schengen Area since 2007 . Hungary is a member of the United Nations , NATO , WTO , World Bank , the AIIB , the Council of Europe and Visegrád Group . Well known for its rich cultural history , Hungary has contributed significantly to arts , music , literature , sports and science and technology . Hungary is the 11th most popular country as a tourist destination in Europe , attracting 14.3 million international tourists in 2015 . It is home to the largest thermal water cave system , the second largest thermal lake in the world , the largest lake in Central Europe , and the largest natural grasslands in Europe .


Sarah Michelle Gellar won the 1995 Daytime Emmy Award.

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


Harry Styles and his bandmates released the work of music Up All Night.

Harry Styles Harry Edward Styles ( born 1 February 1994 ) is an English singer and songwriter . He is known as a member of the pop boy band One Direction . He made his debut as a singer with his band White Eskimo , who performed locally in Holmes Chapel , Cheshire . In 2010 , Styles auditioned as a solo artist for the British television series The X Factor . After being eliminated as a solo performer , Styles was brought back into the competition , along with four other contestants , Niall Horan , Zayn Malik , Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson , to form One Direction .   Styles and his bandmates have released the albums Up All Night ( 2011 ) , Take Me Home ( 2012 ) , Midnight Memories ( 2013 ) , Four ( 2014 ) , and Made in the A.M. ( 2015 ) . They have also performed on two worldwide tours , one featured on concert film One Direction : This Is Us , and won several awards , including five Brit Awards and four MTV Video Music Awards .   On 23 June 2016 it was reported by Billboard that Styles had signed a three-album solo recording deal with Columbia Records , the same label behind One Direction . Styles will make his acting debut in the war film Dunkirk in July 2017 . Preceded by its first solo single `` Sign of the Times '' , his self-titled debut album was released on 12 May 2017 .


The New Adventures of Old Christine is a TV show.

The New Adventures of Old Christine The New Adventures of Old Christine ( often shortened to simply Old Christine ) is an American television sitcom starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Christine Campbell , a middle-aged divorced mother who struggles to keep pace with those around her . Clark Gregg co-starred as her ex-husband Richard , with whom Christine maintains a close relationship despite their divorce , as well as Hamish Linklater as her brother Matthew and Wanda Sykes as her best friend Barb . It originally ran on CBS from March 13 , 2006 , to May 12 , 2010 .   The New Adventures of Old Christine was created and produced by Kari Lizer as well as Andy Ackerman ( who directed all 88 episodes of the series ) , and distributed by Warner Bros. . Television . The series received generally positive reviews from television critics and was nominated for nine Primetime Emmy Awards , winning one for Louis-Dreyfus ' performance in the first season . In May 2010 , CBS canceled The New Adventures of Old Christine after five seasons .


Academy Awards The Academy Awards , now known officially as the Oscars , is a set of twenty-four awards for artistic and technical merit in the American film industry , given annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ) , to recognize excellence in cinematic achievements as assessed by the Academy 's voting membership . The various category winners are awarded a copy of a golden statuette , officially called the `` Academy Award of Merit '' , which has become commonly known by its nickname `` Oscar '' . The awards , first presented in 1929 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel , are overseen by AMPAS .   The awards ceremony was first broadcast on radio in 1930 and televised for the first time in 1953 . It is now seen live in more than 200 countries and can be streamed live online . The Academy Awards ceremony is the oldest worldwide entertainment awards ceremony . Its equivalents -- the Emmy Awards for television , the Tony Awards for theater , and the Grammy Awards for music and recording -- are modeled after the Academy Awards .   The 89th Academy Awards ceremony , honoring the best films of 2016 , were held on February 26 , 2017 , at the Dolby Theatre , in Los Angeles , California . The ceremony was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and was broadcast on ABC . A total of 3,048 Oscars have been awarded from the inception of the award through the 88th .


Richard Burbage Richard Burbage ( 6 January 1567 -- 12 March 1619 ) is considered the first great actor of English theatre . He is one of the most famous actors of the Globe Theatre of his time . In addition to being a stage actor he was also a theatre owner , entrepreneur and painter . He was the younger brother of Cuthbert Burbage . They were both actors in drama . Burbage was a business associate and friend to William Shakespeare .   The son of James Burbage , a joiner who became a theatrical impresario , and also founded the first theatre and was a famous theatrical entrepreneur . Burbage was a popular actor by his early 20s . He excelled in plays with the theme of tragedies . His early acting career is poorly documented . As many young actors of his time , he may have played the part of women in productions before taking any of the roles he is known for . It has been suggested that he spent time working with the Earl of Leicester 's company , but there is no good evidence for this . He was probably acting with the Admiral 's Men in 1590 , with Lord Strange 's Men in 1592 , and with the Earl of Pembroke 's Men in 1593 ; but most famously he was the star of William Shakespeare 's theatre company , the Lord Chamberlain 's Men which became the King 's Men on the ascension of James I in 1603 . He played the title role in the first performances of many of Shakespeare 's plays , including Hamlet , Othello , Richard III , and King Lear . But he was in great demand and also appeared in the plays of many of the great contemporary writers , such as Ben Jonson ( the title role in Volpone , and Subtle in The Alchemist ) , John Marston ( The Malcontent ) , John Webster ( The Duchess of Malfi ) and Beaumont and Fletcher ( The Maid 's Tragedy ) .   Burbage 's power and scope as an actor is revealed in the sheer size of the roles he played . He was a great box office draw . Of the hundreds of plays and thousands of roles for actors that date from the 1580 -- 1610 era , there are only twenty or so roles that are longer than 800 lines . Edward Alleyn was the first English actor to manage such roles , in Marlowe 's Tamburlaine and The Jew of Malta ; but the majority of these star roles , thirteen of the twenty , were acted by Burbage.He was said to be quite rich because he was earning income from being the primary housekeeping of two playhouses , a sharer in the King 's Men , a lead actor and a painter .   His acting style is closely compared with the method that actors use today called method acting ; it would be another four centuries before this came into popularity . He was described as being short and stout , but said to be an impressive figure , with numerous praises written of him in contemporary accounts .


The Red Army invasion of Georgia aimed to restore a regime.

Red Army invasion of Georgia The Red Army invasion of Georgia ( 15 February -- 17 March 1921 ) , also known as the Soviet -- Georgian War or the Soviet invasion of Georgia , was a military campaign by the Soviet Russian ( RSFSR ) Red Army aimed at overthrowing the Social-Democratic ( Menshevik ) government of the Democratic Republic of Georgia ( DRG ) and installing a Bolshevik regime in the country . The conflict was a result of expansionist policy by the Soviets , who aimed to control as much as possible of the lands which had been part of the former Russian Empire until the turbulent events of the First World War , as well as the revolutionary efforts of mostly Russian-based Georgian Bolsheviks , who did not have sufficient support in their native country to seize power without external intervention .   The independence of Georgia had been recognized by Soviet Russia in the Treaty of Moscow , signed on 7 May 1920 , and the subsequent invasion of the country was not universally agreed upon in Moscow . It was largely engineered by two influential Georgian-born Soviet Russian officials , Stalin ( Dzhugashvili ) and Sergo ( Ordzhonikidze ) , who on 14 February 1921 got the consent of Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin to advance into Georgia , on the pretext of supporting `` peasants and workers rebellion '' in the country . Soviet forces took the Georgian capital Tbilisi ( then known as Tiflis to most non-Georgian speakers ) after heavy fighting and declared the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic on 25 February 1921 . The rest of the country was overrun within three weeks , but it was not until September 1924 that Soviet rule was firmly established . Almost simultaneous occupation of a large portion of southwest Georgia by Turkey ( February -- March 1921 ) threatened to develop into a crisis between Moscow and Ankara , and led to significant territorial concessions by the Soviets to the Turkish National Government in the Treaty of Kars .


Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon Princess Margaret , Countess of Snowdon , ( Margaret Rose ; 21 August 1930 -- 9 February 2002 ) was the younger daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom and the only sibling of Queen Elizabeth II .   Margaret spent much of her childhood in the company of her older sister and parents . Her life changed dramatically in 1936 , when her paternal uncle , King Edward VIII , abdicated to marry a divorcée , Wallis Simpson . Margaret 's father became King , and her older sister became heir presumptive , with Margaret second in line to the throne . During World War II , the two sisters stayed at Windsor Castle , despite suggestions to evacuate them to Canada . During the war years , Margaret was considered too young to perform any official duties and instead continued her education .   After the war , Margaret fell in love with Group Captain Peter Townsend . In 1952 , Margaret 's father died , her sister became Queen , and Townsend divorced his first wife . Early the following year , he proposed to Margaret . Many in the government believed he would be an unsuitable husband for the Queen 's 22-year-old sister , and the Church of England refused to countenance a marriage to a divorced man . Margaret eventually abandoned her plans with him and in 1960 , she accepted the proposal of the photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones , who was created Earl of Snowdon by the Queen . The couple had two children . They divorced in 1978 .   Margaret was often viewed as a controversial member of the British royal family . Her divorce earned her negative publicity , and she was romantically associated with several men . Her health gradually deteriorated in the final two decades of her life . A heavy smoker for most of her adult life , she had a lung operation in 1985 , a bout of pneumonia in 1993 , and at least three strokes between 1998 and 2001 . She died at King Edward VII Hospital on 9 February 2002 .


Resident Evil 7: Biohazard Resident Evil 7 : Biohazard is a survival horror video game developed and published by Capcom . The game was released worldwide in January 2017 for Microsoft Windows , PlayStation 4 -- with support for the PlayStation VR headset -- and Xbox One . It is the eleventh main entry and 24th entry overall in the Resident Evil franchise . It is the first main series installment to be played from a first-person perspective .   The story follows civilian Ethan Winters as he searches for his wife Mia , which leads him to a derelict plantation inhabited by the Baker family . Ethan makes use of weapons and tools in the fight against the Baker family , and the `` Molded '' , a humanoid form of bacteria . Healing items are used in the event of injury and there are puzzles that may be solved to further the story . Instead of being action-oriented like Resident Evil 5 and 6 , the survival horror element present in earlier installments took priority . Thus , the game uses a first-person perspective . It is the first full-length game to be developed in the RE Engine .   Resident Evil 7 received generally favorable reviews , which praised the gameplay , graphics , and design . PlayStation VR was hailed for increasing player involvement . However , it was also subject to complaint , with decreased resolution and physical discomfort cited as its chief offenses . Further criticism was directed at the game 's boss battles and the final chapter of the game . It had the third-best sales debut in the series and has sold over 3 million copies .


Tom Hiddleston turned down the opportunity to appear in Midnight in Paris.

Tom Hiddleston Thomas William Hiddleston ( born 9 February 1981 ) is an English actor , producer and musical performer . At the beginning of his career , he appeared in West End theatre productions of Cymbeline ( 2007 ) and Ivanov ( 2008 ) . He won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Newcomer in a Play for his role in Cymbeline and was also nominated for the same award for his role as Cassio in Othello .   He came to wider public attention when cast as Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe , appearing in Thor ( 2011 ) , The Avengers ( 2012 ) , Thor : The Dark World ( 2013 ) , and Thor : Ragnarok ( 2017 ) . In 2011 , he won the Empire Award for Best Male Newcomer and was nominated for the BAFTA Rising Star Award . Hiddleston has also appeared in Steven Spielberg 's War Horse ( 2011 ) , The Deep Blue Sea ( 2011 ) , Woody Allen 's romantic comedy Midnight in Paris ( 2011 ) , the 2012 BBC series Henry IV and Henry V , and the romantic vampire film Only Lovers Left Alive ( 2013 ) .   In late 2013 and early 2014 , Hiddleston starred as the title character in the Donmar Warehouse production of Coriolanus , winning the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actor . In 2015 , he starred in Guillermo del Toro 's Crimson Peak , Ben Wheatley 's High Rise , and played the troubled country music singer Hank Williams in the biopic I Saw The Light .   In 2016 , he starred in and was an executive producer of the AMC / BBC limited series The Night Manager , for which he received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie and Outstanding Limited Series , and won his first Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Miniseries or Television Film .


John Cena is a two-time Royal Rumble winner for two years.

John Cena John Felix Anthony Cena Jr. ( -LSB- ˈsiːnə -RSB- born April 23 , 1977 ) is an American professional wrestler , rapper , actor , and reality television show host . He is signed to WWE , where he performs on the SmackDown brand . Cena started his professional wrestling career in 1999 with Ultimate Pro Wrestling ( UPW ) and won the UPW Heavyweight Championship the following year . Cena signed a developmental contract with the World Wrestling Federation ( WWF , later renamed to World Wrestling Entertainment , or simply WWE ) in 2001 , debuting on the WWE main roster in 2002 .   From a generic character in 2002 , Cena morphed into a rapper for the time period of 2002 -- 2004 , which earned him fame within the audience on SmackDown ! . Cena later transitioned to his current character , which he describes as a `` goody-two shoes Superman '' . However , Cena has been labeled as the `` most polarizing professional wrestler ever '' as his character has many supporters and many detractors , according to Jim Ross of Fox Sports , who also noted that Cena has been WWE 's franchise player for a long-time . In 2012 , IGN described Cena as WWE 's franchise player since 2005 and WWE credited Cena as being the `` face of WWE '' in 2015 since 2004 . Industry veterans John Layfield , Paul Heyman , and Kurt Angle have called Cena the greatest WWE star of all time .   Throughout his WWE career , Cena has won 25 championships , with 16 reigns as a world champion ( 13 times as WWE Champion and three times as WWE 's World Heavyweight Champion ) , an accomplishment only previously achieved by WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair . He is also a five-time United States Champion , and four-time world tag team champion ( two World Tag Team and two WWE Tag Team ) . Furthermore , he is a Money in the Bank ladder match winner ( 2012 ) , a two-time Royal Rumble winner ( 2008 , 2013 ) , and a three-time Superstar of the Year Slammy Award winner ( 2009 , 2010 , 2012 ) . Cena has the fourth-highest number of combined days as WWE Champion , behind Bruno Sammartino , Bob Backlund , and Hulk Hogan . He has also headlined WWE 's flagship event , WrestleMania , on five different occasions ( WrestleManias 22 , 23 , XXVII , XXVIII , and 29 ) over the course of his career , as well as many others pay-per-view events . As of 2016 , John Cena is WWE 's highest-paid wrestler .   Outside of wrestling , Cena has released the rap album You Ca n't See Me , which debuted at No. 15 on the US Billboard 200 chart , and starred in the feature films The Marine ( 2006 ) , 12 Rounds ( 2009 ) , Legendary ( 2010 ) , The Reunion ( 2011 ) , Trainwreck ( 2015 ) , and Sisters ( 2015 ) . Cena has also made appearances on television shows including Manhunt , Deal or No Deal , MADtv , Saturday Night Live , Punk 'd , Psych , and Parks and Recreation . He was also a contestant on Fast Cars and Superstars : The Gillette Young Guns Celebrity Race , where he made it to the final round before being eliminated , placing third in the overall competition . Cena is also the host of American Grit on Fox . Cena is involved in numerous philanthropic causes ; most notably with the Make-A-Wish Foundation . He has granted the most wishes in Make-A-Wish history .


Grace Jones influenced New York's cross-dressing movement in the 1980s.

Grace Jones Grace Jones ( born 19 May 1948 ) is a Jamaican born singer , songwriter , lyricist , supermodel , record producer , and actress . Born in Jamaica , at age 13 she moved with her siblings to their parents ' home in Syracuse , New York . Jones began her modelling career in New York state , then in Paris , working for fashion houses such as Yves St. Laurent and Kenzo , and appearing on the covers of Elle and Vogue . She worked with photographers such as Helmut Newton , Guy Bourdin , and Hans Feurer , and became known for her distinctive androgynous appearance and bold features .   In 1977 Jones secured a record deal with Island Records , initially becoming a star of New York City 's Studio 54-centered disco scene . In the early 1980s she moved toward a new wave style that drew on reggae , funk , post-punk , and pop music , frequently collaborating with both the graphic designer Jean-Paul Goude and the musical duo Sly & Robbie . Her most popular albums include Warm Leatherette ( 1980 ) , Nightclubbing ( 1981 ) , and Slave to the Rhythm ( 1985 ) . She scored Top 40 entries on the UK Singles Chart with `` Pull Up to the Bumper '' , `` I 've Seen That Face Before '' , `` Private Life '' , and `` Slave to the Rhythm '' . In 1982 , she released the music video collection A One Man Show , directed by Goude .   Jones appeared in some low-budget films in the US during the 1970s and early 1980s . In 1984 she made her first mainstream appearance as Zula in the fantasy-action film Conan the Destroyer alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sarah Douglas , and subsequently appeared in the 1985 James Bond movie A View to a Kill as May Day . In 1986 she played a vampire in Vamp , and acted in and contributed a song to the 1992 Eddie Murphy film Boomerang . She appeared alongside Tim Curry in the 2001 film Wolf Girl . For her work in Conan the Destroyer , A View to a Kill , and Vamp , she was nominated for Saturn Awards for Best Supporting Actress .   In 1999 , Jones ranked 82nd on VH1 's 100 Greatest Women of Rock and Roll , and in 2008 , she was honored with a Q Idol Award . Jones influenced the cross-dressing movement of the 1980s and has been an inspiration for artists including Annie Lennox , Lady Gaga , Rihanna , Lorde , Róisín Murphy , Brazilian Girls , Nile Rodgers , Santigold , Basement Jaxx and Stanka Brljevic . In December 2016 , Billboard magazine ranked her as the 40th most successful dance artist of all time .


Richmond, Virginia is a neighbor to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Richmond, Virginia Richmond ( -LSB- ˈrɪtʃmənd -RSB- ) is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States . It is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area ( MSA ) and the Greater Richmond Region . It was incorporated in 1742 , and has been an independent city since 1871 .   As of the 2010 census , the population was 204,214 ; in 2016 , the population was estimated to be 223,170 , the fourth-most populous city in Virginia . The Richmond Metropolitan Area has a population of 1,260,029 , the third-most populous metro in the state .   Richmond is located at the fall line of the James River , 44 mi west of Williamsburg , 66 mi east of Charlottesville , and 98 mi south of Washington , D.C. Surrounded by Henrico and Chesterfield counties , the city is located at the intersections of Interstate 95 and Interstate 64 , and encircled by Interstate 295 and Virginia State Route 288 . Major suburbs include Midlothian to the southwest , Glen Allen to the north and west , Short Pump to the west and Mechanicsville to the northeast .   The site of Richmond had been an important village of the Powhatan Confederacy , and was briefly settled by English colonists from Jamestown in 1609 , and in 1610 -- 1611 . The present city of Richmond was founded in 1737 . It became the capital of the Colony and Dominion of Virginia in 1780 . During the Revolutionary War period , several notable events occurred in the city , including Patrick Henry 's `` Give me liberty or give me death '' speech in 1775 at St. John 's Church , and the passage of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom written by Thomas Jefferson . During the American Civil War , Richmond served as the capital of the Confederate States of America . The city entered the 20th century with one of the world 's first successful electric streetcar systems . The Jackson Ward neighborhood is a national hub of African-American commerce and culture .   Richmond 's economy is primarily driven by law , finance , and government , with federal , state , and local governmental agencies , as well as notable legal and banking firms , located in the downtown area . The city is home to both the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit , one of 13 United States courts of appeals , and the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond , one of 12 Federal Reserve Banks . Dominion Resources and MeadWestvaco , Fortune 500 companies , are headquartered in the city , with others in the metropolitan area .


H. H. Holmes Herman Webster Mudgett ( May 16 , 1861 -- May 7 , 1896 ) , better known under the name of Dr. Henry Howard Holmes or more commonly H. H. Holmes , was one of the first documented serial killers in the modern sense of the term .   While he confessed to 27 murders , only nine could be plausibly confirmed and several of the murders he confessed to were people who were still alive . He is commonly said to have killed as many as 200 , though this figure is traceable only to 1940s pulp magazines . Many victims were said to have been killed in a mixed-use building he owned , located about 3 mi west of the 1893 Chicago World 's Fair and said to have been a World 's Fair Hotel , though evidence suggests that the hotel portion was never truly open for business .   Besides being a serial killer , Holmes was also a successful con artist and a bigamist , the subject of more than 50 lawsuits in Chicago alone . Many now-common stories of his crimes sprang from fictional accounts that later authors took for fact ; however , in a 2017 biography , Adam Selzer wrote that Holmes ' story is `` effectively a new American tall tale - and , like all the best tall tales , it sprang from a kernel of truth '' .


Alive 2006/2007 was a tour by Daft Punk.

Alive 2006/2007 Alive 2006/2007 was a concert tour by French electronic music duo Daft Punk , their first tour as a duo since 1997 . While the 2006 concerts were not given a formal title , the 2007 performances were advertised as `` Alive 2007 '' . The 2006 performances and 2007 tour as a whole was later retroactively named `` Alive 2006/2007 '' .   The tour was met with praise and critical acclaim . The Times described Daft Punk 's set as a `` memorable sensory spectacle , both dazzling and deafening '' .


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


Shay Haley Sheldon Haley ( born December 18 , 1972 ) , better known as Shae , Shay or Shade , is an American musician . He is a member of the funk rock band , N * E * R * D , who often contributes backup vocals , while Pharrell Williams carries lead duties , and Chad Hugo supplies the production . His role in the band is often questioned , but in a recent interview , Pharrell stated that Shae is the root of the band . Pharrell also stated that Shae keeps everyone grounded and together .


Father of the Bride includes George Newbern in it's cast.

Father of the Bride (1991 film) Father of the Bride is a 1991 American comedy film starring Steve Martin , Diane Keaton , Kimberly Williams ( in her film debut ) , George Newbern , Martin Short , B. D. Wong , and Kieran Culkin . It is a remake of the 1950 film of the same name .   The film inspired a series of Hallmark commercials that featured the smiling faces of the happy couple and sneak-peeks at the backs of numerous greeting cards . It is number 92 on Bravo 's `` 100 Funniest Movies '' .   Martin portrays George Banks , a businessman and owner of an athletic shoe company ( called Side Kicks ) , who , when he finds out his daughter is getting married , does not want to give her away . He eventually learns to live with his new son-in-law and realizes that as long as his daughter is happy , he is happy .   The film opened to positive reviews , and became a major box office success , earning more than four times its budget . With its success , a sequel , Father of the Bride Part II was released in 1995 .   This was Nancy Meyers and Diane Keaton 's second film together , the first being Baby Boom ( 1987 ) ; the others were Father of the Bride Part II ( 1995 ) and Something 's Got ta Give ( 2003 ) .


Adi Shankar refused to ever take part in the film industry.

Adi Shankar Adi Shankar ( born Aditya Shankar ; January 8 , 1985 ) is an Indian-born American film producer , film director , YouTube personality , and occasional actor , who is best known for being the youngest producer to have a number one film at the North American box office with The Grey . He is also known for his `` Bootleg Universe '' fanfilms which includes The Punisher : Dirty Laundry , and Power/Rangers .   In 2014 Shankar ranked number 20 on GQ magazine 's list of `` Most Influential Global Indian Men . '' He and Spencer Silna run the production company 1984 Private Defense Contractors .


Horseshoe Falls is one of a set of waterfalls.

Horseshoe Falls Horseshoe Falls , also known as Canadian Falls , is one of three waterfalls which collectively form Niagara Falls on the Niagara River along the Canada-US Border . Approximately 90 % of the Niagara River , after diversions for hydropower generation , flows over Horseshoe Falls . The remaining 10 % flows over American Falls and Bridal Veil falls . It is located between Terrapin Point on Goat Island in the US state of New York , and Table Rock in the Canadian province of Ontario .


Rich Girl (Gwen Stefani song) received a nomination for a Grammy Award.

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


Gregor Clegane is a character in the A Song of Ice and Fire collection.

Gregor Clegane Ser Gregor Clegane , nicknamed The Mountain , is a fictional character in the A Song of Ice and Fire series of fantasy novels by American author George R. R. Martin , and its television adaptation Game of Thrones . He is a retainer to House Lannister . An enormous man , he is well known for his size , prowess in battle and cruelty .   Introduced in 1996 's A Game of Thrones , Gregor is the older brother of Sandor Clegane , from the fictional kingdom of Westeros . He subsequently appeared in Martin 's A Clash of Kings ( 1998 ) , A Storm of Swords ( 2000 ) and in A Dance with Dragons ( 2011 ) as Ser Robert Strong .   Ser Gregor Clegane is a huge knight and the elder brother of Sandor Clegane . Called `` The Mountain That Rides '' , he is known for his incredibly cruel nature and uncontrollable temper . His size and strength make him a fearsome warrior , and he has earned a reputation for cruelty and brutality . He is able to wield a two-handed sword one handed . When they were children , Gregor shoved Sandor 's face into a brazier , gruesomely scarring him .   Gregor Clegane is portrayed by Conan Stevens in season one , by Ian Whyte in season two , and by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson in seasons four , five , and six in the HBO television adaptation .


7 Things `` 7 Things '' is a song by American singer-songwriter and actress Miley Cyrus . The song was co-written by Cyrus , Antonina Armato and Tim James , and produced by John Fields . It was released on June 17 , 2008 by Hollywood Records as the lead single from the first studio album released by Cyrus with no ties to her character Hannah Montana from the Disney Channel comedy series of the same name . Also registered as `` Seven Things I Hate About You '' , Cyrus developed the song during the Best of Both Worlds Tour while feeling numerous emotions for an ex-boyfriend , mainly anger . The song 's release brought allegations that it was about Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers , which Cyrus neither confirmed nor denied . Musically , `` 7 Things '' bears aspects of both country and pop rock , while the lyrics in the song 's refrain list seven traits Cyrus hates about an ex-boyfriend .   `` 7 Things '' received mixed to positive reviews from music critics and enjoyed worldwide commercial success , becoming a top ten hit on charts in Australia , Japan , Norway , and the United States . The single was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association ( ARIA ) , while its appearance on the Japan Hot 100 made `` 7 Things '' Cyrus ' first song to chart in an Asian country . The song 's accompanying music video was directed by Brett Ratner and features Cyrus performing the song with a back-up band as many teenage girls lipsync along . The girls clutch a variety of props , such as love letters and snow globes , inspired by personal items Cyrus ' ex had given her . The video was nominated for an MTV Video Music Award at both the 2008 and 2009 award shows . Cyrus promoted the song through several venues including her world tours , the Wonder World Tour and the Gypsy Heart Tour .


Ford Motor Company has joint-ventures in China, Taiwan, and Thailand.

Ford Motor Company The Ford Motor Company ( commonly referred to simply as `` Ford '' ) is an American multinational automaker headquartered in Dearborn , Michigan , a suburb of Detroit . It was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16 , 1903 . The company sells automobiles and commercial vehicles under the Ford brand and most luxury cars under the Lincoln brand . Ford also owns Brazilian SUV manufacturer , Troller , and Australian performance car manufacturer FPV . In the past , it has also produced tractors and automotive components . Ford owns an 8 % stake in Aston Martin of the United Kingdom , and a 49 % stake in Jiangling of China . It also has a number of joint-ventures , one in China ( Changan Ford ) , one in Taiwan ( Ford Lio Ho ) , one in Thailand ( AutoAlliance Thailand ) , one in Turkey ( Ford Otosan ) , and one in Russia ( Ford Sollers ) . It is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is controlled by the Ford family , although they have minority ownership ( but majority of the voting power ) .   Ford introduced methods for large-scale manufacturing of cars and large-scale management of an industrial workforce using elaborately engineered manufacturing sequences typified by moving assembly lines ; by 1914 , these methods were known around the world as Fordism . Ford 's former UK subsidiaries Jaguar and Land Rover , acquired in 1989 and 2000 respectively , were sold to Tata Motors in March 2008 . Ford owned the Swedish automaker Volvo from 1999 to 2010 . In 2011 , Ford discontinued the Mercury brand , under which it had marketed entry-level luxury cars in the United States , Canada , Mexico , and the Middle East since 1938 .   During the financial crisis at the beginning of the 21st century , it was close to bankruptcy , but it has since returned to profitability .   Ford is the second-largest U.S.-based automaker ( preceded by General Motors ) and the fifth-largest in the world ( behind Toyota , VW , Hyundai-Kia and General Motors ) based on 2015 vehicle production . At the end of 2010 , Ford was the fifth largest automaker in Europe . Ford is the eighth-ranked overall American-based company in the 2010 Fortune 500 list , based on global revenues in 2009 of $ 118.3 billion . In 2008 , Ford produced 5.532 million automobiles and employed about 213,000 employees at around 90 plants and facilities worldwide .   The company went public in 1956 but the Ford family , through special Class B shares , still retain 40 percent voting rights .


Madonna (entertainer) Madonna Louise Ciccone ( -LSB- tʃɪˈkoʊni -RSB- born August 16 , 1958 ) is an American singer , songwriter , actress , and businesswoman . She achieved popularity by pushing the boundaries of lyrical content in mainstream popular music and imagery in her music videos , which became a fixture on MTV . Madonna is known for reinventing both her music and image , and for maintaining her autonomy within the recording industry . Music critics have acclaimed her musical productions , which have generated some controversy . Referred to as the `` Queen of Pop '' , Madonna is often cited as an influence by other artists .   Born in Bay City , Michigan , Madonna moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance . After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy , she signed with Sire Records ( an auxiliary label of Warner Bros. . Records ) in 1982 and released her eponymous debut album the following year . She followed it with a series of commercially and critically successful albums , including the Grammy Award winners Ray of Light ( 1998 ) and Confessions on a Dance Floor ( 2005 ) . Throughout her career , Madonna has written and produced most of her songs , with many of them reaching number one on the record charts , including `` Like a Virgin '' , `` Papa Do n't Preach '' , `` Like a Prayer '' , `` Vogue '' , `` Take a Bow '' , `` Frozen '' , `` Music '' , `` Hung Up '' , and `` 4 Minutes '' .   Madonna 's popularity was further enhanced by her roles in films such as Desperately Seeking Susan ( 1985 ) , Dick Tracy ( 1990 ) , and Evita ( 1996 ) . While the latter earned her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress , most of her other films received poor reviews . Madonna has been acclaimed as a businesswoman , particularly after she founded entertainment company Maverick ( including the label Maverick Records ) . In 2007 she signed an unprecedented U.S. $ 120 million 360 deal with Live Nation , which led to a record deal with Interscope Records . Her other ventures include fashion design , writing children 's books , and filmmaking .   Having sold more than 300 million records worldwide , Madonna is recognized as the best-selling female recording artist of all time by Guinness World Records . The Recording Industry Association of America ( RIAA ) listed her as the best-selling female rock artist of the 20th century and the second highest-certified female artist in the United States , with 64.5 million album units . Madonna is the highest-grossing solo touring artist of all time , earning U.S. $ 1.31 billion from her concerts since 1990 . She became one of the five founding members of the UK Music Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in her first year of eligibility . Madonna was ranked at number one on VH1 's list of 100 Greatest Women in Music and number two ( behind only The Beatles ) on Billboards list of Greatest Hot 100 Artists of All Time .


Madonna (Madonna album) Madonna ( retitled Madonna : The First Album for the 1985 rerelease ) is the debut album by American singer and songwriter Madonna , released on July 27 , 1983 by Sire Records . After having established herself as a singer in downtown New York City , Madonna was signed by Sire Record president Seymour Stein following the success of her 1982 single `` Everybody '' . Unhappy with the work of producer Reggie Lucas , Madonna invited John `` Jellybean '' Benitez to complete the album , who remixed three tracks and produced `` Holiday '' .   Madonna has an upbeat synthetic disco sound , using new technology of the time , including the Linn drum machine , Moog bass and Oberheim OB-X synthesizer . Madonna sings in a bright , girlish timbre , with lyrics about love and relationships . She solely wrote five of the album 's eight tracks . To promote the album , Madonna performed one-off gigs in clubs and on television in the United States and United Kingdom throughout 1983 -- 84 , followed by the Virgin Tour in 1985 . Five singles were released , including the international top-ten hits `` Holiday '' , `` Lucky Star '' , and `` Borderline '' . Their accompanying music videos were released on the Madonna video compilation , which became the best-selling videocassette of 1985 in the United States .   Madonna peaked at number eight on the Billboard 200 , and was certified five-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America ( RIAA ) for shipment of five million copies across the United States . It reached the top ten of the charts in Australia , France , Netherlands , New Zealand , Sweden and the United Kingdom , and sold more than 10 million copies worldwide . Though Madonna was dismissed by some critics at the time of its release , it has been applauded by contemporary critics ; in 2008 , the album placed number five on Entertainment Weeklys list of `` Top 100 Best Albums of Past 25 Years '' . The album helped popularize dance music , setting the standard for dance-pop for decades afterward , and pointed the direction for numerous female artists of the 1980s .


Chess used to be recognized as a sport by the International Olympic Committee.

Chess Chess is a two-player strategy board game played on a chessboard , a checkered gameboard with 64 squares arranged in an 8 × 8 grid . The game is played by millions of people worldwide .   Each player begins with 16 pieces : one king , one queen , two rooks , two knights , two bishops , and eight pawns . Each of the six piece types moves differently , with the most powerful being the queen and the least powerful the pawn . The objective is to checkmate the opponent 's king by placing it under an inescapable threat of capture . To this end , a player 's pieces are used to attack and capture the opponent 's pieces , while supporting each other . In addition to checkmate , the game can be won by of the opponent , which typically occurs when too much material is lost , or checkmate appears unavoidable . A game can also in several ways end in a draw .   Chess is believed to have originated in India sometime before the 7th century , being derived from the Indian game chaturanga , which is also the likely ancestor of the Eastern strategy games xiangqi , janggi , and shogi . ( A minority view holds that chess originated in China . ) The pieces assumed their current powers in Spain in the late 15th century ; the rules were finally standardized in the 19th century . The first generally recognized World Chess Champion , Wilhelm Steinitz , claimed his title in 1886 . Since 1948 , the World Championship has been regulated by FIDE , the game 's international governing body . FIDE also organizes the Women 's World Championship , the World Junior Championship , the World Senior Championship , the Blitz and Rapid World Championships , and the Chess Olympiad , a popular competition among international teams . There is also a Correspondence Chess World Championship and a World Computer Chess Championship . Online chess has opened amateur and professional competition to a wide and varied group of players .   FIDE awards titles to skilled players , the highest of which is grandmaster . Many national chess organizations also have a title system ; however , these are not recognized by FIDE .   Until recently , chess was a recognized sport of the International Olympic Committee ; some national sporting bodies such as the Spanish Consejo Superior de Deportes also recognize chess as a sport . Chess was included in the 2006 and 2010 Asian Games .   Since the second half of the 20th century , computers have been programmed to play chess with increasing success , to the point where the strongest home computers play at a higher level than the best human players . Since the 1990s , computer analysis has contributed significantly to chess theory , particularly in the endgame . The IBM computer Deep Blue was the first machine to overcome a reigning World Chess Champion in a match when it defeated Garry Kasparov in 1997 . The rise of strong computer programs ( called `` engines '' ) runnable on hand-held devices has led to increasing concerns about cheating during tournaments .   There are also many chess variants which utilize different rules , pieces , or boards . One of these , Chess960 ( originally `` Fischerandom '' ) , has gained widespread popularity as well as limited FIDE recognition .


Susan Sarandon Susan Abigail Sarandon ( -LSB- səˈrændən -RSB- née Tomalin ; born October 4 , 1946 ) is an American actress and activist . She is an Academy Award and BAFTA Award winner who is also known for her social and political activism for a variety of causes . She was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 1999 and received the Action Against Hunger Humanitarian Award in 2006 .   Sarandon began her career in the 1970 film Joe , before appearing in the soap opera A World Apart ( 1970 -- 71 ) . In 1975 , she starred in the cult classic film The Rocky Horror Picture Show . She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for Atlantic City ( 1980 ) , Thelma & Louise ( 1991 ) , Lorenzo 's Oil ( 1992 ) , and The Client ( 1994 ) , before winning for Dead Man Walking ( 1995 ) . She has also won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for The Client , and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actress for Dead Man Walking . Her other films include : Pretty Baby ( 1978 ) , The Hunger ( 1983 ) , The Witches of Eastwick ( 1987 ) , Bull Durham ( 1988 ) , White Palace ( 1990 ) , Little Women ( 1994 ) , Stepmom ( 1998 ) , Enchanted ( 2007 ) , The Lovely Bones ( 2009 ) , Tammy ( 2014 ) , and The Meddler ( 2015 ) .   She made her Broadway debut in An Evening with Richard Nixon in 1972 and went on to receive Drama Desk Award nominations for the Off-Broadway plays , A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking ( 1979 ) and Extremities ( 1982 ) . She returned to Broadway in the 2009 revival of Exit the King .   On television , she is a five-time Emmy Award nominee , including for her guest roles on the sitcoms Friends ( 2001 ) and Malcolm in the Middle ( 2002 ) , and the TV films Bernard and Doris ( 2007 ) and You Do n't Know Jack ( 2010 ) . In 2017 , Sarandon portrayed Bette Davis in the first season of FX 's anthology series Feud .


Amelia Earhart's full name was Amelia Mary Earhart.

Amelia Earhart Amelia Mary Earhart ( -LSB- ˈɛərhɑrt -RSB- July 24 , 1897 -- disappeared July 2 , 1937 ) was an American aviation pioneer and author . Earhart was the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean . She received the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross for this accomplishment . She set many other records , wrote best-selling books about her flying experiences and was instrumental in the formation of The Ninety-Nines , an organization for female pilots . In 1935 , Earhart became a visiting faculty member at Purdue University as an advisor to aeronautical engineering and a career counselor to women students . She was also a member of the National Woman 's Party and an early supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment .   During an attempt to make a circumnavigational flight of the globe in 1937 in a Purdue-funded Lockheed Model 10 Electra , Earhart disappeared over the central Pacific Ocean near Howland Island . Fascination with her life , career and disappearance continues to this day .


Stockard Channing appeared in comedy films.

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


Heartburn (film) Heartburn is a 1986 American comedy-drama film directed and produced by Mike Nichols , starring Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson , and is also Kevin Spacey 's film debut . The song , `` Coming Around Again '' , was performed and written by Carly Simon and became one of the Billboard hits , reaching # 18 on the Hot 100 and # 5 on the Adult Contemporary chart .


Grease (film) Grease is a 1978 American musical romantic comedy film based on Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey 's musical of the same name . The film depicts the life of Rydell High School students Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson in the late 1950s . Directed by Randal Kleiser and written by Bronte Woodard , the film stars John Travolta as Danny , Olivia Newton-John as Sandy and Stockard Channing as Betty Rizzo . Grease was successful both critically and commercially . Its soundtrack album ended 1978 as the second-best selling album of the year in the United States , behind the soundtrack of Saturday Night Fever .   A sequel , Grease 2 , was released in 1982 , starring Maxwell Caulfield and Michelle Pfeiffer . Only a few of the original cast members reprised their roles .


Lauren Graham Lauren Helen Graham ( born March 16 , 1967 ) is an American actress and author . She is best recognized for her role as Lorelai Gilmore on the television series Gilmore Girls ( 2000 -- 07 ) , for which she received two Screen Actors Guild Award nominations , one Golden Globe nomination , and five Satellite Award nominations . She is also known for film roles in Sweet November ( 2001 ) , Bad Santa ( 2003 ) , The Pacifier ( 2005 ) , Because I Said So ( 2007 ) , and Evan Almighty ( 2007 ) . From 2010 to 2015 , Graham starred as Sarah Braverman on the NBC television drama Parenthood .   Graham published her debut novel in 2013 , Someday , Someday , Maybe , with Ballantine Books . She reprised her role as Lorelai Gilmore on Netflix 's reunion miniseries in 2016 , Gilmore Girls : A Year in the Life , and published a memoir , Talking as Fast as I Can : from Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls ( and Everything in Between ) .


Pitch Perfect 3 Pitch Perfect 3 is an upcoming American musical comedy film directed by Trish Sie and written by Kay Cannon , Mike White , and Dana Fox . A sequel to 2015 's Pitch Perfect 2 and the third installment in the Pitch Perfect series , the film will star Anna Kendrick , Anna Camp , Rebel Wilson , Brittany Snow , Hailee Steinfeld , Alexis Knapp , Ester Dean , Hana Mae Lee , Chrissie Fit , Kelley Jakle , and Shelley Regner as the Bellas and Elizabeth Banks and John Michael Higgins . The film is scheduled to be released on December 22 , 2017 .


Bam Margera Brandon Cole `` Bam '' Margera ( -LSB- mɑrˈdʒɛərə -RSB- or ; born September 28 , 1979 ) is an American professional skateboarder , stunt performer , and television personality . He came to prominence after appearing in MTV 's Jackass crew . He has since appeared in MTV 's Viva La Bam and Bam 's Unholy Union , all three Jackass movies , and Haggard and Minghags , both of which he co-wrote and directed .


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 .


Bob Dylan has been admitted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame.

Bob Dylan Bob Dylan ( -LSB- ˈdɪlən -RSB- born Robert Allen Zimmerman ; May 24 , 1941 ) is an American poetic songwriter , singer , painter , writer , and Nobel prize laureate . He has been influential in popular music and culture for more than five decades . Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s , when his songs chronicled social unrest . Early songs such as `` Blowin ' in the Wind '' and `` The Times They Are a-Changin ' '' became anthems for the Civil Rights Movement and anti-war movement . Leaving behind his initial base in the American folk music revival , his six-minute single `` Like a Rolling Stone '' , recorded in 1965 , enlarged the range of popular music .   Dylan 's lyrics incorporate a wide range of political , social , philosophical , and literary influences . They defied existing pop music conventions and appealed to the burgeoning counterculture . Initially inspired by the performances of Little Richard and the songwriting of Woody Guthrie , Robert Johnson , and Hank Williams , Dylan has amplified and personalized musical genres . His recording career , spanning more than 50 years , has explored the traditions in American song -- from folk , blues , and country to gospel , rock and roll , and rockabilly to English , Scottish , and Irish folk music , embracing even jazz and the Great American Songbook . Dylan performs with guitar , keyboards , and harmonica . Backed by a changing lineup of musicians , he has toured steadily since the late 1980s on what has been dubbed the Never Ending Tour . His accomplishments as a recording artist and performer have been central to his career , but his songwriting is considered his greatest contribution .   Since 1994 , Dylan has published seven books of drawings and paintings , and his work has been exhibited in major art galleries . As a musician , Dylan has sold more than 100 million records , making him one of the best-selling artists of all time . He has also received numerous awards including eleven Grammy Awards , a Golden Globe Award , and an Academy Award . Dylan has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame , Minnesota Music Hall of Fame , Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame , and Songwriters Hall of Fame . The Pulitzer Prize jury in 2008 awarded him a special citation for `` his profound impact on popular music and American culture , marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power . '' In May 2012 , Dylan received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama . In 2016 , he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature `` for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition '' .


The Place Beyond the Pines was directed by a director.

The Place Beyond the Pines The Place Beyond the Pines is a 2012 American crime drama film directed by Derek Cianfrance and written by Cianfrance , Ben Coccio , and Darius Marder . It stars Ryan Gosling , Bradley Cooper , Eva Mendes , Emory Cohen and Dane DeHaan , with Ben Mendelsohn , Rose Byrne , Mahershala Ali , Bruce Greenwood , Harris Yulin , and Ray Liotta in supporting roles . The film reunites Cianfrance and Gosling , who worked together on 2010 's Blue Valentine . The film was scored by Mike Patton and also featured previously written music by Estonian composer Arvo Pärt . The title is the English meaning of the city of Schenectady , New York , which is derived loosely from a Mohawk word for `` place beyond the pine plains . ''


Derek Cianfrance Derek M. Cianfrance ( -LSB- pronˈsiːənfræns -RSB- born January 1974 ) is an American film director , cinematographer , screenwriter , and editor .


Meek Mill's debut album is named Dreams and Nightmares.

Meek Mill Robert Rihmeek Williams ( born May 6 , 1987 ) , better known by his stage name Meek Mill , is an American hip hop recording artist . Raised in Philadelphia , he embarked on his music career as a battle rapper , and later formed a short-lived rap group , The Bloodhoundz . In 2008 , Atlanta-based rapper T.I. signed Meek Mill to his first record deal . In February 2011 , after leaving Grand Hustle Records , Mill signed with Miami-based rapper Rick Ross 's Maybach Music Group ( MMG ) . Mill 's debut album , Dreams and Nightmares , was released in 2012 under MMG and Warner Bros. . Records . The album , preceded by the single `` Young & Gettin ' It '' , debuted at number two on the U.S. Billboard 200 .   In October 2012 , Mill announced the launch of his own label imprint , Dream Chasers Records , named after his mixtape series . Meek Mill often collaborates with fellow MMG label-mates ; he is also known for his appearances on MMG 's Self Made compilation series , with his first two singles , `` Tupac Back '' and `` Ima Boss '' , being included on volume one .


Roald Dahl Roald Dahl ( -LSB- langpronˈroʊ.əld _ ˈdɑːl -RSB- , -LSB- ˈɾuːɑl dɑl -RSB- ; 13 September 1916 -- 23 November 1990 ) was a British novelist , short story writer , poet , screenwriter , and fighter pilot . His books have sold more than 250 million copies worldwide .   Born in Wales to Norwegian parents , Dahl served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War , in which he became a flying ace and intelligence officer , rising to the rank of acting wing commander . He rose to prominence in the 1940s with works for both children and adults and he became one of the world 's best selling authors . He has been referred to as `` one of the greatest storytellers for children of the 20th century '' . His awards for contribution to literature include the 1983 World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement , and the British Book Awards ' Children 's Author of the Year in 1990 . In 2008 , The Times placed Dahl 16th on its list of `` The 50 greatest British writers since 1945 '' .   Dahl 's short stories are known for their unexpected endings and his children 's books for their unsentimental , macabre , often darkly comic mood , featuring villainous adult enemies of the child characters . His books champion the kind-hearted , and feature an underlying warm sentiment . Dahl 's works for children include James and the Giant Peach , Charlie and the Chocolate Factory , Matilda , The Witches , Fantastic Mr Fox , The BFG , The Twits and George 's Marvellous Medicine . His adult works include Tales of the Unexpected .


Vedanta excludes sub-traditions espousing dualism.

Vedanta Vedanta ( IAST , , Sanskrit : वेदांत ) or Uttara Mīmāṃsā is one of the six orthodox ( āstika ) schools of Hindu philosophy . Vedanta literally means `` end of the Vedas '' , reflecting ideas that emerged from the speculations and philosophies contained in the Upanishads . It does not stand for one comprehensive or unifying doctrine . Rather it is an umbrella term for many sub-traditions , ranging from dualism to non-dualism , all of which developed on the basis of a common textual connection called the Prasthanatrayi . The Prasthanatrayi is a collective term for the Principal Upanishads , the Brahma Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita .   All Vedanta schools , in their deliberations , concern themselves with the following three categories but differ in their views regarding the concept and the relations between them : Brahman -- the ultimate metaphysical reality , Ātman / Jivātman -- the individual soul or self , and Prakriti -- the empirical world , ever-changing physical universe , body and matter .   Some of the better known sub-traditions of Vedanta include Advaita ( non-dualism ) , Vishishtadvaita ( qualified non-dualism ) , and Dvaita ( dualism ) . Most other Vedantic sub-traditions are subsumed under the term Bhedabheda ( difference and non-difference ) . Over time , Vedanta adopted ideas from other orthodox ( āstika ) schools like Yoga and Nyaya , and , through this syncretism , became the most prominent school of Hinduism . Many extant forms of Vaishnavism , Shaivism and Shaktism have been significantly shaped and influenced by the doctrines of different schools of Vedanta . The Vedanta school has had a historic and central influence on Hinduism .