Neil Armstrong Neil Alden Armstrong ( August 5 , 1930 -- August 25 , 2012 ) was an American astronaut and the first person to walk on the Moon . He was also an aerospace engineer , naval aviator , test pilot , and university professor . Before becoming an astronaut , Armstrong was an officer in the U.S. Navy and served in the Korean War . After the war , he earned his bachelor 's degree at Purdue University and served as a test pilot at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics ( NACA ) High-Speed Flight Station , where he logged over 900 flights . He later completed graduate studies at the University of Southern California .   A participant in the U.S. Air Force 's Man in Space Soonest and X-20 Dyna-Soar human spaceflight programs , Armstrong joined the NASA Astronaut Corps in 1962 . He made his first space flight as command pilot of Gemini 8 in March 1966 , becoming NASA 's first civilian astronaut to fly in space . He performed the first docking of two spacecraft , with pilot David Scott . This mission was aborted after Armstrong used some of his reentry control fuel to prevent a dangerous spin caused by a stuck thruster , in the first in-flight space emergency .   Armstrong 's second and last spaceflight was as commander of Apollo 11 , the first manned Moon landing mission in July 1969 . Armstrong and Lunar Module pilot Buzz Aldrin descended to the lunar surface and spent two and a half hours outside the spacecraft , while Michael Collins remained in lunar orbit in the Command/Service Module . Along with Collins and Aldrin , Armstrong was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Richard Nixon . President Jimmy Carter presented Armstrong the Congressional Space Medal of Honor in 1978 . Armstrong and his former crewmates received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2009 .   Armstrong died in Cincinnati , Ohio on August 25 , 2012 , at the age of 82 , after complications from coronary artery bypass surgery .


Briana Banks Briana Banks ( born May 21 , 1978 ) is the stage name of a German American pornographic actress and model . She is the Penthouse Pet of the Month for June 2001 .


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


Amy Poehler was a creator of the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater.

Upright Citizens Brigade The Upright Citizens Brigade is an improvisational and sketch comedy group that emerged from Chicago 's ImprovOlympic in 1990 . The original incarnation of the group consisted of Matt Besser , Amy Poehler , Ian Roberts , Matt Walsh , Adam McKay , Rick Roman , Horatio Sanz and Drew Franklin , whose picture is the UCB logo . Other early members included Neil Flynn , Armando Diaz , Ali Farahnakian and Rich Fulcher .   In 2013 , Besser , Roberts and Walsh wrote The Upright Citizens Brigade Comedy Improvisation Manual .


Amy Poehler Amy Meredith Poehler ( -LSB- ˈpoʊlər -RSB- born September 16 , 1971 ) is an American actress , comedian , director , producer , and writer . After studying improv at Chicago 's Second City and ImprovOlympic in the early 1990s , she went to New York City in 1996 to become part of the improvisational comedy troupe Upright Citizens Brigade . The group 's act became a half-hour sketch comedy series on Comedy Central in 1998 . Along with other members of the comedy group , Poehler was a founder of the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre .   She is best known by starring as Leslie Knope in the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation , for which she won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Musical or Comedy Series in 2014 and a Critics ' Choice Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series in 2012 . Poehler was a cast member on the NBC television series Saturday Night Live from 2001 to 2008 and became co-anchor of SNL 's Weekend Update in 2004 alongside friend and colleague Tina Fey . She is also known for voicing Joy from Inside Out , Sally O'Malley from the Horton Hears a Who ! movie adaption , Bessie Higgenbottom in the 2008 -- 2011 Nickelodeon series , The Mighty B ! and Homily Clock from the American-English dub of The Secret World of Arrietty .   Poehler served as an executive producer on the Swedish-American sitcom Welcome to Sweden , along with her brother Greg Poehler . The series aired on NBC . She is also an executive producer on Broad City which airs on Comedy Central , and appeared in the season one finale . Since August 2015 , she has served as an executive producer on the Hulu original series Difficult People , which stars her former Parks and Recreation co-star Billy Eichner and comedian Julie Klausner , the latter of whom is the creator of the show . In December 2015 , Poehler received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contributions in television . An 18-time Primetime Emmy Award nominee , she won the 2016 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for Saturday Night Live .


Western New York is considered separate from the Great Lakes Region.

New York New York is a state in the northeastern United States , and is the 27th-most extensive , fourth-most populous , and seventh-most densely populated U.S. state . New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south and Connecticut , Massachusetts , and Vermont to the east . The state has a maritime border in the Atlantic Ocean with Rhode Island , east of Long Island , as well as an international border with the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the north and Ontario to the northwest . The state of New York , with an estimated 19.8 million residents in 2015 , is also referred to as New York State to distinguish it from New York City , the state 's most populous city and its economic hub .   With an estimated population of 8.55 million in 2015 , New York City is the most populous city in the United States and the premier gateway for legal immigration to the United States . The New York Metropolitan Area is one of the most populous urban agglomerations in the world . New York City is a global city , exerting a significant impact upon commerce , finance , media , art , fashion , research , technology , education , and entertainment , its fast pace defining the term New York minute . The home of the United Nations Headquarters , New York City is an important center for international diplomacy and has been described as the cultural , financial , and media capital of the world , as well as the world 's most economically powerful city . New York City makes up over 40 % of the population of New York State . Two-thirds of the state 's population lives in the New York City Metropolitan Area , and nearly 40 % lives on Long Island . Both the state and New York City were named for the 17th-century Duke of York , future King James II of England . The next four most populous cities in the state are Buffalo , Rochester , Yonkers , and Syracuse , while the state capital is Albany .   New York has a diverse geography . The southern part of the state consists of Long Island and several smaller associated islands , as well as New York City and the lower Hudson River Valley , most of which lie within the wider Atlantic Coastal Plain . The large region known as Upstate New York consists of several ranges of the wider Appalachian Mountains , including the Allegheny Plateau and Catskills along New York 's Southern Tier , and the Adirondack Mountains , Thousand Islands archipelago , and Saint Lawrence Seaway in the Northeastern lobe of the state . These more mountainous regions are bisected by two major river valleys -- the north-south Hudson River Valley and the east-west Mohawk River Valley , which forms the core of the Erie Canal . Western New York is considered part of the Great Lakes Region and straddles Lake Ontario and Lake Erie . Between the two lakes lies Niagara Falls . The central part of the state is dominated by the Finger Lakes , a popular vacation and tourist destination .   New York had been inhabited by tribes of Algonquian and Iroquoian-speaking Native Americans for several hundred years by the time the earliest Europeans came to New York . The first Europeans to arrive were French colonists and Jesuit missionaries who arrived southward from settlements at Montreal for trade and proselytizing . In 1609 , the region was claimed by Henry Hudson for the Dutch , who built Fort Nassau in 1614 at the confluence of the Hudson and Mohawk rivers , where the present-day capital of Albany later developed . The Dutch soon also settled New Amsterdam and parts of the Hudson Valley , establishing the colony of New Netherland , a multicultural community from its earliest days and a center of trade and immigration . The British annexed the colony from the Dutch in 1664 . The borders of the British colony , the Province of New York , were similar to those of the present-day state .   Many landmarks in New York are well known to both international and domestic visitors , with New York State hosting four of the world 's ten most-visited tourist attractions in 2013 : Times Square , Central Park , Niagara Falls ( shared with Ontario ) , and Grand Central Terminal . New York is home to the Statue of Liberty , a symbol of the United States and its ideals of freedom , democracy , and opportunity . In the 21st century , New York has emerged as a global node of creativity and entrepreneurship , social tolerance , and environmental sustainability . New York 's higher education network comprises approximately 200 colleges and universities , including Columbia University , Cornell University , New York University , and Rockefeller University , which have been ranked among the top 35 in the world .


Future collaborated with a Canadian singer.

Drake (musician) Aubrey Drake Graham ( born October 24 , 1986 ) better known by the stage name Drake , is a Canadian rapper , singer , songwriter , record producer , and actor . Drake initially gained recognition as an actor on the teen drama television series Degrassi : The Next Generation in the early 2000s . Intent on pursuing a career as a rapper , he departed the series in 2007 following the release of his debut mixtape , Room for Improvement . He released two further independent projects , Comeback Season and So Far Gone , before signing to Lil Wayne 's Young Money Entertainment in June 2009 .   Drake released his debut studio album Thank Me Later in 2010 , which debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 and was soon certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America ( RIAA ) . His next two releases were 2011 's Take Care and 2013 's Nothing Was the Same , with certifications of quadruple and triple platinum respectively in the U.S. , with the former also earning him his first Grammy Award for Best Rap Album . They were followed by two mixtapes , with the trap-influenced If You 're Reading This It 's Too Late , and a collaboration with Future for What a Time to Be Alive , in 2015 , which both also earned platinum certification in the U.S.   Drake released his fourth album , Views , in 2016 , breaking several chart records in the process . The dancehall-influenced album sat atop the Billboard 200 for ten nonconsecutive weeks , becoming the first album by a solo male to do so in over 10 years . Its single `` One Dance '' topped the chart in several countries , including the U.S. , the UK and Canada , where it became his first number-one single as the lead artist . This saw Drake leading the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard 200 simultaneously for eight weeks , coming close to a record held by Whitney Houston . It achieved quadruple platinum status in the U.S. , and earned over 1 million album-equivalent units in the first week of its release . The single `` Hotline Bling '' secured him his second and third Grammy win , for Best Rap/Sung Performance and Best Rap Song , at the organization 's 59th ceremony .   Drake released the multi-genre More Life in 2017 . Described by Drake as a playlist , it was his seventh consecutive number one on the Billboard 200 , and set multiple streaming records .   Drake owns several Billboard chart records . He has the most charted songs ( 154 ) among solo artists in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 , the most simultaneously charted Hot 100 songs in a single week ( 24 ) , and the most Hot 100 debuts in a week ( 21 ) . Drake also has the most number one singles on the Hot Rap Songs , Hot R&B / Hip-Hop Airplay and Rhythmic Charts . Alongside his Grammy Award wins , Drake has won three Juno Awards and six American Music Awards .   Drake has developed other ventures , including his OVO Sound record label with longtime collaborator Noah `` 40 '' Shebib . Drake acts as a producer , producing under the pseudonym of Champagne Papi . Using the `` OVO '' moniker , Drake has his own clothing line and his own program on Beats 1 Radio . He is also currently acting as the global ambassador for NBA franchise , the Toronto Raptors .


Future (rapper) Nayvadius DeMun Wilburn ( born November 20 , 1983 ) , known professionally as Future , is an American rapper , singer , songwriter , and record producer . Born and raised in Atlanta , Georgia , Wilburn first became involved in music as part of the Dungeon Family collective , where he was nicknamed `` the Future '' . After amassing a series of mixtapes between 2010 and 2011 , Future signed a major record label deal with Epic Records and A1 Recordings , which helped launch Future 's own label imprint , Freebandz . He subsequently released his debut album , Pluto , in April 2012 to positive reviews . Future 's second album , Honest , was released in April 2014 , surpassing his debut on the album charts .   Between late 2014 and early 2015 , he released a trio of mixtapes to critical praise : Monster ( 2014 ) , Beast Mode ( 2015 ) , and 56 Nights ( 2015 ) . His next releases , DS2 ( 2015 ) , What a Time to Be Alive ( 2015 , in collaboration with Drake ) , EVOL ( 2016 ) , FUTURE ( 2017 ) and HNDRXX ( 2017 ) all debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 . The latter two made him the first artist to debut two albums in consecutive weeks at the top of that chart . Future has also released several singles certified gold or higher by the RIAA , including `` Turn On the Lights '' , `` Move That Dope '' , `` Fuck Up Some Commas '' , `` Where Ya At '' , `` Jumpman '' , `` Low Life '' and `` Mask Off '' .


Solange Knowles Solange Piaget Knowles ( -LSB- soʊˈlɑːnʒ -RSB- born June 24 , 1986 ) is an American singer , songwriter , dancer , model and actress . Expressing an interest in music from an early age , Knowles had several temporary stints in Destiny 's Child , before signing with her father Mathew Knowles 's Music World Entertainment label . At age 16 , Knowles released her first studio album Solo Star ( 2002 ) . Between 2005 and 2007 , Knowles had several minor acting roles , including the direct-to-video Bring It On : All or Nothing ( 2006 ) and continued writing music for her older sister Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and for ex-Destiny 's Child group members Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams .   In 2007 , Knowles began to record music again . Her second studio album Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams ( 2008 ) deviated from the pop-oriented music of her debut to the Motown Sound of the 1960s and 1970s . It peaked at number nine on US Billboard 200 and received positive reviews from critics . She followed this up with the 1980s pop and R&B -- inspired extended play True ( 2012 ) on Columbia Records and her imprint Saint Records . Her third studio album , A Seat at the Table ( 2016 ) became her first number-one album in the United States . The album 's first single , `` Cranes in the Sky '' won the Grammy for Best R&B Performance . In December 2016 , Billboard magazine ranked her as the 100th most successful dance artist of all-time .   Knowles is heavily influenced by Motown girl groups and says that her first passion is songwriting . She is frequently compared by the media to her sister , Beyoncé , but Solange insists they have different aspirations and are musically different . Her other ventures include an endorsement deal with Rimmel London and a line of hip-hop-oriented merchandise for young children . On November 16 , 2014 , Knowles married music video director Alan Ferguson in New Orleans , Louisiana .


The Saw films featured the performance of Donnie Wahlberg.

Donnie Wahlberg Donald Edmond `` Donnie '' Wahlberg Jr. . ( born August 17 , 1969 ) is an American singer , songwriter , actor , record producer , and film producer . He is a founding member of the boy band New Kids on the Block . Outside of music , he has had roles in the Saw films , The Sixth Sense , Dreamcatcher , and Righteous Kill , also appearing in the World War II miniseries Band of Brothers as First Lieutenant Carwood Lipton . From 2002 to 2003 , he starred in the crime drama Boomtown . He has been starring in the drama series Blue Bloods as Danny Reagan with Tom Selleck ( his TV father ) and Bridget Moynahan ( his TV sister ) since 2010 , and since 2014 is an executive producer of the TNT reality television show Boston 's Finest . He was nominated for Choice Scream at the 2008 Teen Choice Awards for his work in the Saw films . He has also produced and starred in `` Rock this Boat '' , `` Donnie Loves Jenny '' and `` Return of the Mac '' on Pop TV .


The Olympic Games are international video gaming events.

Summer Olympic Games The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad ( Jeux olympiques d'été ) , first held in 1896 , is an international multi-sport event that is hosted by a different city every four years . The most recent Olympics were held in Rio de Janeiro , Brazil . The International Olympic Committee organizes the games and oversees the host city 's preparations . In each Olympic event , gold medals are awarded for first place , silver medals are awarded for second place , and bronze medals are awarded for third ; this tradition began in 1904 . The Winter Olympic Games were created due to the success of the Summer Olympics .   The Olympics have increased in scope from a 42-event competition with fewer than 250 male competitors from 14 nations in 1896 to 302 events with 10,768 competitors ( 5,992 men , 4,776 women ) from 204 nations in 2012 .   Eighteen countries have hosted the Summer Olympics . The United States has hosted four Summer Olympics ( 1904 , 1932 , 1984 , 1996 ) , more than any other nation , and Great Britain has hosted three Summer Olympics ( 1908 , 1948 , 2012 ) , all in London . Four cities have hosted two Summer Olympics : Athens ( 1896 , 2004 ) , Paris ( 1900 , 1924 ) , Los Angeles ( 1932 , 1984 ) , and Tokyo ( 1964 , 2020 ) . Tokyo is the first city outside of the Western world to host the Summer Olympics multiple times .   Asia has hosted the Summer Olympics four times ( 1964 , 1988 , 2008 , 2020 ) in Japan , South Korea , and China . The only Summer Olympics held in the Southern Hemisphere have been in Australia ( 1956 , 2000 ) and Brazil ( 2016 ) . The 2016 Games are the first Summer Olympics to be held in South America and the first to be held during the local winter season . Africa has yet to host a Summer Olympics .   Only five countries -- Greece , Australia , France , Great Britain , and Switzerland -- have been represented at every Summer Olympic Games . The only country to have won at least one gold medal at every Summer Olympic Games is Great Britain . The United States leads the all-time medal table .


Olympic Games The modern Olympic Games or Olympics ( Jeux olympiques ) are leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a variety of competitions . The Olympic Games are considered the world 's foremost sports competition with more than 200 nations participating . The Olympic Games are held every four years , with the Summer and Winter Games alternating by occurring every four years but two years apart .   Their creation was inspired by the ancient Olympic Games , which were held in Olympia , Greece , from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD . Baron Pierre de Coubertin founded the International Olympic Committee ( IOC ) in 1894 , leading to the first modern Games in Athens in 1896 . The IOC is the governing body of the Olympic Movement , with the Olympic Charter defining its structure and authority .   The evolution of the Olympic Movement during the 20th and 21st centuries has resulted in several changes to the Olympic Games . Some of these adjustments include the creation of the Winter Olympic Games for ice and winter sports , the Paralympic Games for athletes with a disability , and the Youth Olympic Games for teenage athletes . The IOC has had to adapt to a variety of economic , political , and technological advancements . As a result , the Olympics has shifted away from pure amateurism , as envisioned by Coubertin , to allowing participation of professional athletes . The growing importance of mass media created the issue of corporate sponsorship and commercialisation of the Games . World wars led to the cancellation of the 1916 , 1940 , and 1944 Games . Large boycotts during the Cold War limited participation in the 1980 and 1984 Games .   The Olympic Movement consists of international sports federations ( IFs ) , National Olympic Committees ( NOCs ) , and organising committees for each specific Olympic Games . As the decision-making body , the IOC is responsible for choosing the host city for each Games , and organises and funds the Games according to the Olympic Charter . The IOC also determines the Olympic programme , consisting of the sports to be contested at the Games . There are several Olympic rituals and symbols , such as the Olympic flag and torch , as well as the opening and closing ceremonies . Over 13,000 athletes compete at the Summer and Winter Olympic Games in 33 different sports and nearly 400 events . The first , second , and third-place finishers in each event receive Olympic medals : gold , silver , and bronze , respectively .   The Games have grown so much that nearly every nation is now represented . This growth has created numerous challenges and controversies , including boycotts , doping , bribery , and a terrorist attack in 1972 . Every two years the Olympics and its media exposure provide unknown athletes with the chance to attain national and sometimes international fame . The Games also constitute an opportunity for the host city and country to showcase themselves to the world .


Ludacris's record is called Battle of the Sexes and he has created work.

Ludacris Christopher Brian `` Chris '' Bridges ( born September 11 , 1977 ) , better known by his stage name Ludacris , is an American hip hop recording artist and actor . Alongside his manager , Chaka Zulu , Ludacris is the co-founder of Disturbing tha Peace , an imprint distributed by Def Jam Recordings . Throughout his career , Ludacris has won Screen Actors Guild , Critic 's Choice , MTV , and Grammy Awards . Along with fellow Atlanta-based rappers Big Boi and André 3000 of OutKast , Ludacris was one of the first and most influential `` Dirty South '' rappers to achieve mainstream success during the early 2000s . In 2014 , Ludacris was featured in Forbes list titled `` Hip-Hop Cash Kings '' , as he earned $ 8 million . Next year , he could again make it to their list by earning the same amount .   Born in Champaign , Illinois , Ludacris moved to Atlanta at age nine , where he began rapping . After a brief stint as a disc jockey ( DJ ) , he released his first album Incognegro in 1999 , followed by Back for the First Time in 2000 , which contained the singles `` Southern Hospitality '' and `` What 's Your Fantasy '' . In 2001 , he released Word of Mouf , followed by Chicken-n-Beer in 2003 and The Red Light District in 2004 . He took a more serious approach with his next two albums , Release Therapy ( 2006 ) , and Theater of the Mind ( 2008 ) . His next record , Battle of the Sexes , was released in 2010 and featured the tone of his previous albums . Ludaversal was released on March 31 , 2015 . As an actor , he has appeared in films including Crash ( 2004 ) , Gamer ( 2009 ) , and New Year 's Eve ( 2011 ) , but is best known for playing Tej Parker in The Fast and the Furious film series .


Elizabeth Taylor starred in several critically and commercially successful movies.

Elizabeth Taylor Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor , DBE ( February 27 , 1932 -- March 23 , 2011 ) was a British American actress , businesswoman , and humanitarian . She began as a child actress in the early 1940s , and was one of the most popular stars of classical Hollywood cinema in the 1950s . She continued her career successfully into the 1960s , and remained a well known public figure for the rest of her life . In 1999 , the American Film Institute named her the seventh-greatest female screen legend .   Born in London to wealthy , socially prominent American parents , Taylor moved with her family to Los Angeles in 1939 , and she soon was given a film contract by Universal Pictures . She made her screen debut in a minor role in There 's One Born Every Minute ( 1942 ) , but Universal terminated her contract after a year . Taylor was then signed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer , and had her breakthrough role in National Velvet ( 1944 ) , becoming one of the studio 's most popular teenaged stars . She made the transition to adult roles in the early 1950s , when she starred in the comedy Father of the Bride ( 1950 ) and received critical acclaim for her performance in the tragic drama A Place in the Sun ( 1951 ) .   Despite being one of MGM 's most bankable stars , Taylor wished to end her career in the early 1950s , as she resented the studio 's control and disliked many of the films to which she was assigned . She began receiving better roles in the mid-1950s , beginning with the epic drama Giant ( 1956 ) , and starred in several critically and commercially successful films in the following years . These included two film adaptations of plays by Tennessee Williams , Cat on a Hot Tin Roof ( 1958 ) and Suddenly , Last Summer ( 1959 ) ; Taylor won a Golden Globe for Best Actress for the latter . Although she disliked her role in BUtterfield 8 ( 1960 ) , her last film for MGM , she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance . She was next paid a record-breaking $ 1 million to play the title role in the historical epic Cleopatra ( 1963 ) , the most expensive film made up to that point . During the filming , Taylor and co-star Richard Burton began having an extramarital affair which caused a scandal . Despite public disapproval , Burton and she continued their relationship and were married the first time ( his second marriage , her fifth ) in 1964 . Dubbed `` Liz and Dick '' by the media , they starred in 11 films together , including The V.I.P.s ( 1963 ) , The Sandpiper ( 1965 ) , The Taming of the Shrew ( 1967 ) , and Who 's Afraid of Virginia Woolf ? ( 1966 ) . Taylor received the best reviews of her career for Woolf , winning her second Academy Award and several other awards for her performance .   Taylor 's acting career began to decline in the late 1960s , although she continued starring in films until the mid-1970s , after which she focused on supporting the career of her sixth husband , Senator John Warner . In the 1980s , she acted in her first substantial stage roles and in several television films and series , and became the first celebrity to launch a perfume brand . Taylor was also one of the first celebrities to take part in HIV/AIDS activism . She co-founded the American Foundation for AIDS Research in 1985 and the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation in 1991 . From the early 1990s until her death , she dedicated her time to philanthropy . She received several accolades for it , including the Presidential Citizens Medal .   Throughout her life , Taylor 's personal affairs were subject to constant media attention . She was married eight times to seven men , endured serious illnesses , and led a jet set lifestyle , including amassing one of the most expensive private collections of jewelry . After many years of ill health , Taylor died from congestive heart failure at the age of 79 in 2011 .


Young MC is associated with Marvin Young.

Young MC Marvin Young ( born May 10 , 1967 ) , better known by his stage name Young M.C. , is an English-born American singer , rapper and actor . He is best known for his 1989 hit `` Bust a Move '' . His debut album Stone Cold Rhymin ' found international acclaim ; however , subsequent albums have not reached the same level of success . Young has also appeared in film in acting roles and cameo appearances and has appeared in several television programs .


Roald Dahl was listed as the 16th greatest British writer since 1945 by The Times.

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 .


John Wayne Gacy Jr. murdered three or more people.

John Wayne Gacy John Wayne Gacy Jr. ( March 17 , 1942 -- May 10 , 1994 ) was an American serial killer and rapist . He sexually assaulted , tortured and murdered at least 33 teenage boys and young men between 1972 and 1978 in Cook County , Illinois ( a part of metropolitan Chicago ) .   All of Gacy 's known murders were committed inside his Norwood Park ranch house . His victims were typically lured to his address by force or deception , and all but one of his victims were murdered by either asphyxiation or strangulation with a makeshift tourniquet ; his first victim was stabbed to death . Gacy buried 26 of his victims in the crawl space of his home . Three other victims were buried elsewhere on his property , while the bodies of his last four known victims were discarded in the Des Plaines River .   Convicted of 33 murders , Gacy was sentenced to death on March 13 , 1980 for 12 of those killings . He spent 14 years on death row before he was finally executed by lethal injection at Stateville Correctional Center on May 10 , 1994 .   Gacy became known as the `` Killer Clown '' because of his charitable services at fundraising events , parades , and children 's parties where he would dress as `` Pogo the Clown '' , a character he devised himself .


George Best refuses to be a football player.

George Best George Best ( 22 May 1946 -- 25 November 2005 ) was a Northern Irish professional footballer who played as a winger for Manchester United and the Northern Ireland national team . In 1968 , he won the European Cup with Manchester United , and was named the European Footballer of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year . The Irish Football Association described him as the `` greatest player to ever pull on the green shirt of Northern Ireland '' .   Born and brought up in Belfast , Best began his club career in England with Manchester United , with the scout who had spotted his talent at the age of 15 sending a telegram to manager Matt Busby which read : `` I think I 've found you a genius . '' After making his debut for United aged 17 , he scored 179 goals from 470 appearances over 11 years , and was the club 's top goalscorer in the league for five consecutive seasons .   One of the greatest dribblers of all time , his playing style combined pace , skill , balance , feints , two-footedness , goalscoring and the ability to beat defenders . Best unexpectedly quit United in 1974 at age 27 , but returned to football for a number of clubs around the world in short spells , until retiring in 1984 , age 37 . In international football , he was capped 37 times and scored nine goals between 1964 and 1977 , although a combination of the team 's performance and his lack of fitness in 1982 meant that he never played in the finals of a European Championship or World Cup .   Best was one of the first celebrity footballers , earning the nickname `` El Beatle '' in 1966 , but his subsequent extravagant lifestyle led to various problems , most notably alcoholism , which he suffered from for the rest of his life . These issues affected him on and off the field , at times causing controversy . He said of his career : `` I spent a lot of money on booze , birds -LSB- women -RSB- and fast cars -- the rest I just squandered '' . After football , he spent some time as a football analyst , but his financial and health problems continued into his retirement . He died in 2005 , age 59 , due to complications from the immunosuppressive drugs he needed to take after a liver transplant in 2002 . Best was married twice , to two former models , Angie Best and then Alex Best . His son Calum Best was born in 1981 from his first marriage .   Before he died , Best was voted 8th in the World Soccer 100 greatest football players of the 20th century election in 1999 and was voted 16th in the IFFHS World Player of the Century election in 1999 . He was on the six man short list for the BBC 's Sports Personality of the Century in 1999 . Best was one of the inaugural 22 inductees into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002 . In 2004 , he was voted 19th in the public UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll and was named in the FIFA 100 list of the world 's greatest living players . Former Brazilian footballer Pelé stated , `` George Best was the greatest player in the world '' . Best was once quoted as saying , `` Pelé called me the greatest footballer in the world . That is the ultimate salute to my life . '' On what would have been his 60th birthday , Belfast City Airport was renamed the George Best Belfast City Airport . According to the BBC , Best was remembered by mourners at his public funeral held in Belfast as `` the beautiful boy '' -LSB- with a -RSB- `` beautiful game '' .   Mark Garnett and Richard Weight have explored the enduring appeal of George Best .  The British like their heroes to be tragic ones : possessed of enough glamour and talent for stardom to be lived vicariously through them ; yet flawed and vulnerable enough for the public not to be threatened by their success .


Taiwan Taiwan ( -LSB- taɪˈwɑːn -RSB- ) , officially the Republic of China ( ROC ) , is a state in East Asia . Its neighbours include China ( officially the People 's Republic of China , PRC ) to the west , Japan to the northeast , and the Philippines to the south .  Taiwan is the most populous state that is not a member of the United Nations , and also possesses the largest economy of any state outside of the UN .   The island of Taiwan , also known as Formosa , was mainly inhabited by Taiwanese aborigines before the 17th century , when Dutch and Spanish colonies opened the island to Han Chinese immigration . After a brief rule by the Kingdom of Tungning , the island was annexed by the Qing dynasty , the last dynasty of China . The Qing ceded Taiwan to Japan in 1895 after the Sino-Japanese War . While Taiwan was under Japanese rule , the Republic of China ( ROC ) was established on the mainland in 1912 after the fall of the Qing dynasty . Following the Japanese surrender to the Allies in 1945 , the ROC took control of Taiwan . However , the resumption of the Chinese Civil War led to the ROC 's loss of the mainland to the Communists , and the flight of the ROC government to Taiwan in 1949 . Although the ROC continued to claim to be the legitimate government of China , its effective jurisdiction since 1949 has been limited to Taiwan and its surrounding islands , with the main island making up 99 % of its de facto territory . As a founding member of the United Nations , the ROC continued to represent China at the United Nations until 1971 , when the PRC assumed China 's seat , causing the ROC to lose its UN membership .   In the early 1960s , Taiwan entered a period of rapid economic growth and industrialization , creating a stable industrial economy . In the 1980s and early 1990s , it changed from a one-party military dictatorship dominated by the Kuomintang to a multi-party democracy with a semi-presidential system . Taiwan is the 22nd-largest economy in the world , and its high-tech industry plays a key role in the global economy . It is ranked highly in terms of freedom of the press , healthcare , public education , economic freedom , and human development . The country benefits from a highly skilled workforce and is among the most highly educated countries in the world with one of the highest percentages of its citizens holding a tertiary education degree .   The PRC has consistently claimed sovereignty over Taiwan and asserted the ROC is no longer in legitimate existence . Under its One-China Policy the PRC refused diplomatic relations with any country that recognizes the ROC . Today only a few smaller nations recognize the ROC as the sole legal representative of China , but many other states maintain unofficial ties through representative offices and institutions that function as de facto embassies and consulates . Although Taiwan is fully self-governing , most international organizations in which the PRC participates either refuse to grant membership to Taiwan or allow it to participate only as a non-state actor . Internally , the major division in politics is between the aspirations of eventual Chinese unification or Taiwanese independence , though both sides have moderated their positions to broaden their appeal . The PRC has threatened the use of military force in response to any formal declaration of independence by Taiwan or if PRC leaders decide that peaceful unification is no longer possible .


Two of Lynyrd Skynyrd's band members died in 1977.

Lynyrd Skynyrd Lynyrd Skynyrd ( pronounced -LSB- ˌlɛnərd_ˈskɪnərd -RSB- ) is an American rock band best known for popularizing the Southern rock genre during the 1970s . Originally formed in 1964 as My Backyard in Jacksonville , Florida , the band was also known by names such as The Noble Five and One Percent , before finally deciding on `` Lynyrd Skynyrd '' in 1969 . The band gained worldwide recognition for its live performances and signature songs `` Sweet Home Alabama '' and `` Free Bird '' . At the peak of their success , two band members and a backup singer died in an airplane crash in 1977 , putting an abrupt end to the band 's most popular incarnation . The band has sold 28 million records in the United States .   The surviving band members reformed in 1987 for a reunion tour with lead vocalist Johnny Van Zant , the younger brother of lead singer and founder Ronnie Van Zant . Lynyrd Skynyrd continues to tour and record with co-founder Gary Rossington , Johnny Van Zant , and guitarist Rickey Medlocke -- who first wrote and recorded with the band from 1971 to 1972 ( before his return to Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1996 ) . Fellow founding member Larry Junstrom , along with '70s members Ed King and Artimus Pyle , remain active in music but no longer tour or record with the band . Longtime drummer Michael Cartellone has recorded and toured with the band since 1999 . Lynyrd Skynyrd was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 13 , 2006 .


Directors Guild of America is an entertainment guild representing American film and television directors.

Directors Guild of America The Directors Guild of America ( DGA ) is an entertainment guild which represents the interests of film and television directors in the United States motion picture industry and abroad . Founded as the Screen Directors Guild in 1936 , the group merged with the Radio and Television Directors Guild in 1960 to become the modern Directors Guild of America .


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


Eva Longoria is only has Italian citizenship.

Eva Longoria Eva Longoria Bastón ( born Eva Jacqueline Longoria ; March 15 , 1975 ) is an American actress , producer , director , activist and businesswoman . After a series of guest roles on several television series , Longoria was first recognized for her portrayal of Isabella Braña on the CBS daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless , on which she starred from 2001 to 2003 . She is perhaps best known for her role as Gabrielle Solis on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives , which ran from 2004 to 2012 and for which she received Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations . She has also appeared in Harsh Times ( 2005 ) , The Sentinel ( 2006 ) , and Over Her Dead Body ( 2008 ) . From 2015 to 2016 , Longoria starred as Ana Sofia Calderón on the short-lived NBC sitcom Telenovela , and served as an executive producer for the Lifetime television series Devious Maids .   Longoria has also appeared in several advertising campaigns and has been named one of Hollywood 's most beautiful women by several publications , including People en Español and People magazines . She currently holds contracts with L'Oréal , Hanes , and New York & Co , among others .


Klute Klute is a 1971 American neo-noir crime-thriller film directed and produced by Alan J. Pakula , written by Andy and Dave Lewis , and starring Jane Fonda , Donald Sutherland , Charles Cioffi , and Roy Scheider . It tells the story of a high-priced prostitute who assists a detective in solving a missing person case .   Klute is the first installment of what informally came to be known as Pakula 's `` paranoia trilogy '' . The other two films in the trilogy are The Parallax View ( 1974 ) and All the President 's Men ( 1976 ) .   The film includes a cameo appearance by Warhol superstars actress Candy Darling , and another by All in the Family costar Jean Stapleton . The music was composed by Michael Small .   Jane Fonda won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the film .


Slovakia Slovakia ( listen ) , is a landlocked country in Central Europe . It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west , Poland to the north , Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south . Slovakia 's territory spans about 49000 km2 and is mostly mountainous . The population is over 5 million and comprises mostly ethnic Slovaks . The capital and largest city is Bratislava . The official language is Slovak .   The Slavs arrived in the territory of present-day Slovakia in the 5th and 6th centuries . In the 7th century , they played a significant role in the creation of Samo 's Empire and in the 9th century established the Principality of Nitra . In the 10th century , the territory was integrated into the Kingdom of Hungary , which itself became part of the Ottoman Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire . After World War I and the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire , the Slovaks and Czechs established Czechoslovakia . A separate ( First ) Slovak Republic ( 1939 -- 1945 ) existed in World War II as a client state of Nazi Germany . In 1945 , Czechoslovakia was re-established under Communist rule as a Soviet satellite . In 1989 the Velvet Revolution ended authoritarian Communist rule in Czechoslovakia . Slovakia became an independent state on 1 January 1993 after the peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia , sometimes known as the Velvet Divorce .   Slovakia is a high-income advanced economy with a very high Human Development Index , a very high standard of living and performs favourably in measurements of civil liberties , press freedom , internet freedom , democratic governance and peacefulness . The country maintains a combination of market economy with a comprehensive social security system . Citizens of Slovakia are provided with universal health care , free education and one of the longest paid maternity leave in the OECD . The country joined the European Union in 2004 and the Eurozone on 1 January 2009 . Slovakia is also a member of the Schengen Area , NATO , the United Nations , the OECD , the WTO , CERN , the OSCE , the Council of Europe and the Visegrád Group . The Slovak economy is one of the fastest growing economies in Europe and 3rd fastest in eurozone . Its legal tender , the Euro , is the world 's 2nd most traded currency . Although regional income inequality is high , 90 % of citizens own their homes . In 2016 , Slovak citizens had visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 165 countries and territories , ranking the Slovak passport 11th in the world . Slovakia is the world 's largest per-capita car producer with a total of 1,040,000 cars manufactured in the country in 2016 alone and the 7th largest car producer in the European Union . The car industry represents 43 % of Slovakia 's industrial output , and a quarter of its exports .


Arnold Vinick is a character on a television show.

Arnold Vinick Arnold Vinick is a fictional character on the television series The West Wing played by Alan Alda . The role earned Alda the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2006 .


The Promise premiered at a film festival.

The Promise (2016 film) The Promise is a 2016 American historical drama film directed by Terry George and starring Oscar Isaac , Charlotte Le Bon and Christian Bale , set in the final years of the Ottoman Empire . The film premiered on September 11 , 2016 , at the Toronto International Film Festival and was released in the United States on April 21 , 2017 , by Open Road Films .   The Promise is about a love triangle that develops between Armenian medical student Mikael ( Isaac ) , an American journalist based in Paris named Chris ( Bale ) and an Armenian-born woman raised in France , Ana ( Le Bon ) , during the final years of the Ottoman Empire , and during the Armenian Genocide . The film was a box office bomb , grossing just $ 8 million against its $ 90 million budget , although the studio noted the main purpose of the film was to bring attention to the story , not make money .


Islam Islam ( -LSB- ˈɪslɑːm -RSB- There are ten pronunciations of Islam in English , differing in whether the first or second syllable has the stress , whether the s is -LSB- slinkz -RSB- or -LSB- slinks -RSB- , and whether the a is pronounced -LSB- slinkɑː -RSB- , -LSB- slinkæ -RSB- or ( when the stress is on the first syllable ) -LSB- slinkə -RSB- ( Merriam Webster ) . The most common are -LSB- ˈɪzləm , _ ˈɪsləm , _ ɪzˈlɑːm , _ ɪsˈlɑːm -RSB- ( Oxford English Dictionary , Random House ) and -LSB- ˈɪzlɑːm , _ ˈɪslɑːm -RSB- ( American Heritage Dictionary ) . الإسلام , -LSB- alʔisˈlaːm -RSB- ) is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion which professes that there is only one and incomparable God ( Allah ) and that Muhammad is the last messenger of God . It is the world 's second-largest religion and the fastest-growing major religion in the world , with over 1.8 billion followers or 24.1 % of the global population , known as Muslims . Islam teaches that God who is merciful , all-powerful , and unique has guided mankind through prophets , revealed scriptures and natural signs . The primary scriptures of Islam are the Quran , viewed by Muslims as the verbatim word of God , and the teachings and normative example ( called the sunnah , composed of accounts called hadith ) of Muhammad ( 570 -- 8 June 632 CE ) .   Muslims believe that Islam is the complete and universal version of a primordial faith that was revealed many times before through prophets including Adam , Abraham , Moses , and Jesus . As for the Quran , Muslims consider it to be the unaltered and final revelation of God . Like other Abrahamic religions , Islam also teaches a final judgment with the righteous rewarded paradise and unrighteous are punished in hell . Religious concepts and practices include the five pillars of Islam , which are obligatory acts of worship , and following Islamic law , which touches on virtually every aspect of life and society , from banking and welfare to women and the environment . The cities of Mecca , Medina and Jerusalem are home to the three holiest sites in Islam .   Islam originated in the early 7th century in Mecca , and by the 8th century the Islamic empire extended from Iberia in the west to the Indus River in the east . The Islamic Golden Age refers to the period traditionally dated from the 8th century to the 13th century when much of the historically Islamic world was experiencing a scientific , economic and cultural flourishing . The expansion of the Muslim world involved various caliphates and empires , traders and conversion to Islam by missionary activities .   Most Muslims are of one of two denominations : Sunni ( 75 -- 90 % ) or Shia ( 10 -- 20 % ) . About 13 % of Muslims live in Indonesia , the largest Muslim-majority country , 31 % in South Asia , the largest population of Muslims in the world , 23 % in the Middle East-North Africa , where it is the dominant religion , and 15 % in Sub-Saharan Africa . Sizable Muslim communities are also found in the Americas , Caucasus , China , Europe , Mainland Southeast Asia , Philippines and Russia . Converts and immigrant communities are found in almost every part of the world .


Warren Buffett Warren Edward Buffett ( -LSB- ˈbʌfᵻt -RSB- born August 30 , 1930 ) is an American business magnate , investor , and philanthropist . He is considered by some to be one of the most successful investors in the world , and as of March 2017 is the second wealthiest person in the United States , and the fourth wealthiest in the world , with a total net worth of $ 73.3 billion .   Born in Omaha , Buffett developed an interest in business and investing in his youth , eventually entering the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1947 before transferring and graduating from University of Nebraska -- Lincoln . After graduating at 19 , Buffett enrolled at Columbia Business School of Columbia University , learning and eventually creating his investment philosophy around a concept pioneered by Benjamin Graham -- value investing . He attended New York Institute of Finance to specialize his economics background and soon after began various business partnerships , including one with Graham . After meeting Charlie Munger , Buffett created the Buffett Partnership . His firm would eventually acquire a textile manufacturing firm called Berkshire Hathaway and assume its name to create a diversified holding company .   Buffett has been the chairman and largest shareholder of Berkshire Hathaway since 1970 , and his business exploits have had him referred to as the `` Wizard '' , `` Oracle '' or `` Sage '' of Omaha by global media outlets . He is noted for his adherence to value investing and for his personal frugality despite his immense wealth .   Buffett is a notable philanthropist , having pledged to give away 99 percent of his fortune to philanthropic causes , primarily via the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation . In 2009 , with Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg , Warren founded The Giving Pledge , whereby billionaires pledge to give away at least half of their fortunes .   He is also active in contributing to political causes , having endorsed Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in the 2016 U.S. presidential election ; he has publicly opposed the policies , actions , and statements of the current U.S. president , Donald Trump .


Peyton Manning is the third daughter of Archie Manning.

Peyton Manning Peyton Williams Manning ( born March 24 , 1976 ) is a former American football quarterback who played 18 seasons in the National Football League ( NFL ) , primarily with the Indianapolis Colts . Considered to be one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time , he spent 14 seasons with the Colts and was a member of the Denver Broncos in his last four seasons . Manning played college football for the University of Tennessee , leading the Tennessee Volunteers to the 1997 SEC Championship in his senior season . He is the second son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning and older brother of New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning .   Manning was selected by the Indianapolis Colts as the first overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft . From 1998 to 2010 , he improved the fortunes of the struggling Colts franchise and helped transform them into playoff contenders . During his tenure as starting quarterback , Manning led the team to eight division championships , two AFC championships , and one Super Bowl title , the franchise 's first in over three decades , as well as their first since relocating to Indianapolis .   After undergoing neck surgery that forced him to miss the entire 2011 season , Manning was released by the Colts and signed with the Denver Broncos . Serving as the team 's starting quarterback from 2012 to 2015 , he contributed to the Broncos reaching the top of their division each year and his playing career concluded with a victory in Super Bowl 50 .   Manning holds many NFL records , including passing yards ( 71,940 ) , touchdown passes ( 539 ) , AP MVP awards ( 5 ) , Pro Bowl appearances ( 14 ) , and 4,000-yard passing seasons ( 14 ) . A two-time Super Bowl winner and the most valuable player of Super Bowl XLI , Manning is also the only quarterback to start the Super Bowl for two different franchises more than once each and the only starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl with two different franchises . At 39 years of age , Manning is the oldest quarterback to start in and win a Super Bowl . Manning is also the only quarterback in NFL history to make the Super Bowl four times with four different head coaches ( Dungy , Caldwell , Fox , and Kubiak ) .   During a 2009 Monday Night Football game , Manning received the nickname `` The Sheriff '' from color commentator Jon Gruden due to his tendency to audible prior to the snap , and he was one of the most recognizable and parodied players in the NFL . Teams led by Manning typically utilized the hurry-up offense in place of the standard huddle .


Melbourne Melbourne ( -LSB- ˈmɛlbərn -RSB- ) is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria , and the second-most populous city in Australia and Oceania . The name `` Melbourne '' refers to an urban agglomeration spanning 9900 km2 , which comprises the broader metropolitan area , as well as being the common name for its city centre . The metropolis is located on the large natural bay of Port Phillip and expands into the hinterlands towards the Dandenong and Macedon mountain ranges , Mornington Peninsula and Yarra Valley . Melbourne consists of 31 municipalities . It has a population of 4,641,636 , and its inhabitants are called Melburnians .   Founded by free settlers from the British Crown colony of Van Diemen 's Land on 30 August 1835 , in what was then the colony of New South Wales , it was incorporated as a Crown settlement in 1837 . It was named `` Melbourne '' by the Governor of New South Wales , Sir Richard Bourke , in honour of the British Prime Minister of the day , William Lamb , 2nd Viscount Melbourne . It was officially declared a city by Queen Victoria , to whom Lord Melbourne was close , in 1847 , after which it became the capital of the newly founded colony of Victoria in 1851 . During the Victorian gold rush of the 1850s , it was transformed into one of the world 's largest and wealthiest cities . After the federation of Australia in 1901 , it served as the nation 's interim seat of government until 1927 .   Melbourne rates highly in education , entertainment , health care , research and development , tourism and sport , making it the world 's most liveable city -- for the sixth year in a row in 2016 , according to the Economist Intelligence Unit . It is a leading financial centre in the Asia-Pacific region , and ranks among the top 30 cities in the world in the Global Financial Centres Index . Referred to as Australia 's `` cultural capital '' , it is the birthplace of Australian impressionism , Australian rules football , the Australian film and television industries , and Australian contemporary dance . It is recognised as a UNESCO City of Literature and a major centre for street art , music and theatre . It is home to many of Australia 's largest and oldest cultural institutions such as the Melbourne Cricket Ground , the National Gallery of Victoria , the State Library of Victoria and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building . It was the host city of the 1956 Summer Olympics and the 2006 Commonwealth Games .   The main passenger airport serving the metropolis and the state is Melbourne Airport ( also called Tullamarine Airport ) , the second busiest in Australia . The Port of Melbourne is Australia 's busiest seaport for containerised and general cargo . Melbourne has an extensive transport network . The main metropolitan train terminus is Flinders Street Station , and the main regional train and coach terminus is Southern Cross Station . Melbourne is also home to Australia 's most extensive freeway network and has the world 's largest urban tram network .


The Bridges of Madison County (film) was destroyed before it can be released.

The Bridges of Madison County (film) The Bridges of Madison County is a 1995 American romantic drama film based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Robert James Waller . It was produced by Amblin Entertainment and Malpaso Productions , and distributed by Warner Bros. . Entertainment . The film was produced and directed by Clint Eastwood with Kathleen Kennedy as co-producer and the screenplay was adapted by Richard LaGravenese . The film is about an Italian war bride , Francesca ( Meryl Streep ) , who lives with her husband and two children on a farm in Iowa . In 1965 , she meets a National Geographic photographer named Robert ( Eastwood ) and has a four-day extramarital affair with him that changes both their lives forever . The film earned $ 182 million worldwide and was well received by critics . Streep received an Academy Award for Best Actress nomination in 1996 for her performance in the film .


Stranger Things Stranger Things is an American science fiction-horror web television series created , written , directed and co-executive produced by the Duffer Brothers , as well as co-executive-produced by Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen . The first season stars Winona Ryder , David Harbour , Finn Wolfhard , Millie Bobby Brown , Gaten Matarazzo , Caleb McLaughlin , Natalia Dyer , Charlie Heaton , Cara Buono , and Matthew Modine , with Noah Schnapp and Joe Keery in recurring roles . The second season will see Schnapp and Keery promoted to series regulars , along with the addition of Sadie Sink and Dacre Montgomery .   Set in the fictional town of Hawkins , Indiana in the 1980s , the first season focuses on the investigation into the disappearance of a young boy by his friends , older brother and traumatized mother and the local police chief , amid supernatural events occurring around the town including the appearance of a psychokinetic girl who helps the missing boy 's friends in their own search . The second season is set a year after the first , and deals with attempts of the characters to return to normal and consequences from that season .   The Duffer Brothers developed the series as a mix of investigative drama alongside supernatural elements with childlike sensibilities , establishing its time frame in the 1980s and creating a homage #Noun to pop culture of that decade . Several themes and directorial aspects were inspired and aesthetically informed by the works of Steven Spielberg , John Carpenter , and Stephen King , among others .   The series was released on Netflix on July 15 , 2016 . It received critical acclaim for its characterization , pacing , atmosphere , acting , soundtrack , directing , writing and homages to 1980s genre films . The series has received several industry nominations and awards , including winning the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2016 . On August 31 , 2016 , Netflix renewed the series for a second season of nine episodes , which is set to be released on October 31 , 2017 .


Ellyse Perry plays both cricket and soccer nationally.

Ellyse Perry Ellyse Alexandra Perry ( born 3 November 1990 ) is an Australian sportswoman who made her debut for both the Australian cricket and the Australian women 's national soccer team at the age of 16 . She played her first cricket international in July 2007 before earning her first soccer cap for Australia a month later . Perry is the youngest person to represent Australia in cricket and the first Australian to have appeared in both cricket and soccer World Cups .   Perry was fast-tracked to make her One Day International ( ODI ) debut for Australia against New Zealand , three months before playing a single match for her state New South Wales in the Women 's National Cricket League ( WNCL ) . In 2007 -- 08 , she made her debut for New South Wales and won the WNCL with them , and at the end of the season , she made her Test debut in Bowral against England . During the season , she was the player of the match in her Twenty20 international debut against England , and made her maiden ODI half-century against New Zealand .   Perry took 4/23 in the final of the 2008 -- 09 WNCL to help New South Wales defend their title . She then took nine wickets as Australia came fourth in the 2009 World Cup held in Australia . She was ineffective during the 2009 ICC Women 's World Twenty20 in England , taking only two wickets in Australia 's four matches .   In 2009 -- 10 , Perry took 22 wickets and scored 148 runs as New South Wales won the WNCL again . She then took 18 wickets in 10 ODIs against New Zealand at the end of the season , as the Australians won all the matches . During these matches , Perry took her maiden five-wicket ODI haul . Perry played in each of Australia 's matches at the 2010 World Twenty20 in the West Indies , taking 3/18 and being named player of the match in the final as Australia defeated New Zealand by three runs to claim the title .   A defender , Perry represented Australia at the 2008 Asian Cup , and scored in one of the matches . She played for the Central Coast Mariners in the Australian W-League during the 2008 -- 09 season , before transferring to Canberra United the following year . In June 2010 , Perry began her media career by hosting the soccer-related show Football Stars of Tomorrow , screened on the digital sports channel One HD .


Mother Teresa Mother Teresa , known in the Catholic Church as Saint Teresa of Calcutta ( born Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu ; -LSB- aˈɲɛzə ˈɡɔndʒɛ bɔjaˈdʒiu -RSB- ; 26 August 1910 -- 5 September 1997 ) , was an Albanian-Indian Roman Catholic nun and missionary . She was born in Skopje ( now the capital of the Republic of Macedonia ) , then part of the Kosovo Vilayet of the Ottoman Empire . After living in Macedonia for eighteen years she moved to Ireland and then to India , where she lived for most of her life .   In 1950 Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity , a Roman Catholic religious congregation which had over 4,500 sisters and was active in 133 countries in 2012 . The congregation manages homes for people dying of HIV/AIDS , leprosy and tuberculosis ; soup kitchens ; dispensaries and mobile clinics ; children 's - and family-counselling programmes ; orphanages , and schools . Members , who take vows of chastity , poverty , and obedience , also profess a fourth vow : to give `` wholehearted free service to the poorest of the poor '' .   Teresa received a number of honours , including the 1962 Ramon Magsaysay Peace Prize and 1979 Nobel Peace Prize . She was canonised ( recognised by the church as a saint ) on 4 September 2016 , and the anniversary of her death ( 5 September ) is her feast day .   A controversial figure during her life and after her death , Teresa was admired by many for her charitable work . She was praised and criticised for her opposition to abortion , and criticised for poor conditions in her houses for the dying . Her authorised biography was written by Navin Chawla and published in 1992 , and she has been the subject of films and other books .


Peggy Sue Got Married Peggy Sue Got Married is a 1986 American comedy-drama film directed by Francis Ford Coppola starring Kathleen Turner as a woman on the verge of a divorce , who finds herself transported back to the days of her senior year in high school in 1960 . The film was written by husband and wife team Jerry Leichtling and Arlene Sarner .   The film was nominated for three Academy Awards : Best Actress ( Turner ) , Best Cinematography , and Best Costume Design . In addition , Turner was nominated for Best Foreign Actress at the Sant Jordi Awards .


Get Out (film) Get Out is a 2017 American horror film written , co-produced and directed by Jordan Peele , in his directorial debut . The film stars Daniel Kaluuya , Allison Williams , Lil Rel Howery , Bradley Whitford , Caleb Landry Jones , Stephen Root and Catherine Keener , and follows a young interracial couple who visit the mysterious estate of the woman 's parents .   Get Out premiered at Sundance Film Festival on January 24 , 2017 , and was theatrically released in the United States on February 24 by Universal Pictures . The film has grossed $ 241 million worldwide against its $ 4.5 million budget and received universal acclaim from critics and audiences alike .


Bradley Whitford Bradley Whitford ( born October 10 , 1959 ) is an American actor and political activist . He has played White House Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman on the NBC television drama The West Wing , Danny Tripp on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip , Dan Stark in the Fox police buddy-comedy The Good Guys , Timothy Carter , a character who was believed to be Red John , in the CBS series The Mentalist , antagonist Eric Gordon in the film Billy Madison , and Dean Armitage in the film Get Out .   Whitford was nominated for three consecutive Emmy Awards from 2001 to 2003 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role on The West Wing , winning the award in 2001 . This role has also garnered him three consecutive Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role . He received a second Emmy Award in 2015 for his role in Transparent .  He was an occasional columnist for The Huffington Post , until November 2009 .


Allison Williams (actress) Allison Williams ( born April 13 , 1988 ) is an American actress , comedian , and singer . She is best known for her role as Marnie Michaels on the HBO comedy-drama series Girls and her critically acclaimed performance in the horror film Get Out .


The Avengers (2012 film) Marvel 's The Avengers ( classified under the name Marvel Avengers Assemble in the United Kingdom and Ireland ) , or simply The Avengers , is a 2012 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics superhero team of the same name , produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures . It is the sixth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe . The film was written and directed by Joss Whedon and features an ensemble cast that includes Robert Downey Jr. , Chris Evans , Mark Ruffalo , Chris Hemsworth , Scarlett Johansson , Jeremy Renner , Tom Hiddleston , Clark Gregg , Cobie Smulders , Stellan Skarsgård , and Samuel L. Jackson . In the film , Nick Fury , director of the peacekeeping organization S.H.I.E.L.D. , recruits Iron Man , Captain America , the Hulk , and Thor to form a team that must stop Thor 's brother Loki from subjugating Earth .   The film 's development began when Marvel Studios received a loan from Merrill Lynch in April 2005 . After the success of the film Iron Man in May 2008 , Marvel announced that The Avengers would be released in July 2011 . With the signing of Johansson in March 2009 , the film was pushed back for a 2012 release . Whedon was brought on board in April 2010 and rewrote the original screenplay by Zak Penn. . Production began in April 2011 in Albuquerque , New Mexico , before moving to Cleveland , Ohio , in August and New York City in September . The film was converted to 3D in post-production .   The Avengers premiered on April 11 , 2012 , at Hollywood 's El Capitan Theatre and was released theatrically in the United States on May 4 , 2012 . The film received positive reviews from critics , as well as numerous awards and nominations including Academy Award and BAFTA nominations for achievements in visual effects . It has set or tied numerous box office records , including the biggest opening weekend in North America . The Avengers grossed over $ 1.5 billion worldwide , and became the third-highest-grossing film during its theatrical run -- as well as the first Marvel production to generate $ 1 billion in ticket sales . The film was released on Blu-ray Disc and DVD on September 25 , 2012 . A sequel , titled Avengers : Age of Ultron , was released on May 1 , 2015 , while two additional sequels , Avengers : Infinity War and an untitled sequel , are currently in development , with Infinity War scheduled for a May 4 , 2018 release date , and its sequel scheduled to be released on May 3 , 2019 .


Star Trek Star Trek is an American science fiction media franchise based on the television series created by Gene Roddenberry . The first television series , simply called Star Trek and now referred to as The Original Series , debuted in 1966 and aired for three seasons on the television network NBC . It followed the interstellar adventures of Captain James T. Kirk ( William Shatner ) and his crew aboard the starship USS Enterprise , a space exploration vessel , built by the interstellar federal republic United Federation of Planets in the twenty-third century . The Star Trek canon of the franchise includes The Original Series , an animated series , four spin-off television series , its film franchise and an upcoming television series scheduled to debut in 2017 .   In creating Star Trek , Roddenberry was inspired by the Horatio Hornblower novels , the satirical book Gulliver 's Travels , and by works of western genre such as the television series Wagon Train . These adventures continued in the short-lived Star Trek : The Animated Series and six feature films . Four spin-off television series were eventually produced : Star Trek : The Next Generation followed the crew of a new starship Enterprise set a century after the original series ; Star Trek : Deep Space Nine and Star Trek : Voyager set contemporaneously with The Next Generation ; and Star Trek : Enterprise set before the original series in the early days of human interstellar travel . The adventures of The Next Generation crew continued in four additional feature films . In 2009 , the film franchise underwent a `` reboot '' set in an alternate timeline , or `` Kelvin Timeline '' , entitled simply Star Trek . This film featured a new cast portraying younger versions of the crew from the original show ; their adventures were continued in the sequel film , Star Trek Into Darkness ( 2013 ) . The thirteenth film feature and sequel , Star Trek Beyond ( 2016 ) , was released to coincide with the franchise 's 50th anniversary . A new Star Trek TV series , entitled Star Trek : Discovery , is set to premiere on the digital platform CBS All Access .   Star Trek has been a cult phenomenon for decades . Fans of the franchise are called Trekkies or Trekkers . The franchise spans a wide range of spin-offs including games , figurines , novels , toys , and comics . Star Trek had a themed attraction in Las Vegas that opened in 1998 and closed in September 2008 . At least two museum exhibits of props travel the world . The series has its own full-fledged constructed language , Klingon . Several parodies have been made of Star Trek . In addition , viewers have produced several fan productions . As of July 2016 , the franchise had generated $ 10 billion in revenue , making Star Trek one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time .   Star Trek is noted for its cultural influence beyond works of science fiction . The franchise is also noted for its progressive civil rights stances . The Original Series included one of television 's first multiracial casts . Star Trek references may be found throughout popular culture from movies such as the submarine thriller Crimson Tide to the animated series South Park .


Republic of the Congo The Republic of the Congo ( République du Congo ) , also known as the Congo Republic , West Congo , Congo-Brazzaville or simply Congo , is a country located in Central Africa . It is bordered by five countries : Gabon and the Atlantic Ocean to the west ; Cameroon to the northwest ; the Central African Republic to the northeast ; the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the east and south ; and the Angolan exclave of Cabinda to the southwest .   The region was dominated by Bantu-speaking tribes , who built trade links leading into the Congo River basin . Congo-Brazzaville was formerly part of the French colony of Equatorial Africa . Upon independence in 1960 , the former colony of French Congo became the Republic of the Congo . The People 's Republic of the Congo was a Marxist -- Leninist one-party state from 1970 to 1991 . Multi-party elections have been held since 1992 , although a democratically elected government was ousted in the 1997 Republic of the Congo Civil War and President Denis Sassou Nguesso has ruled for 26 of the past 36 years .   The political stability and development of hydrocarbon production made the Republic of the Congo the fourth largest oil producer in the Gulf of Guinea , providing the country with relative prosperity despite instability in some areas and unequal distribution of oil revenue nationwide .   This country has the largest net export saldo as share of GDP in the world ( 47 % ) .


Gabon Gabon ( -LSB- ɡəˈbɒn -RSB- -LSB- ɡabɔ̃ -RSB- ) , officially the Gabonese Republic ( République gabonaise ) , is a sovereign state on the west coast of Central Africa . Located on the equator , Gabon is bordered by Equatorial Guinea to the northwest , Cameroon to the north , the Republic of the Congo on the east and south , and the Gulf of Guinea to the west . It has an area of nearly 270000 sqkm and its population is estimated at 1.5 million people . Its capital and largest city is Libreville .   Since its independence from France in 1960 , Gabon has had three presidents . In the early 1990s , Gabon introduced a multi-party system and a new democratic constitution that allowed for a more transparent electoral process and reformed many governmental institutions . Gabon was also a temporary member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2010 -- 2011 term .   Abundant petroleum and foreign private investment have helped make Gabon one of the most prosperous countries in Sub-Saharan Africa , with the 4th highest HDI and the third highest GDP per capita ( PPP ) ( after Equatorial Guinea and Botswana ) in the region . GDP grew by more than 6 % per year from 2010 to 2012 . However , because of inequality in income distribution , a significant proportion of the population remains poor .


Cameroon Cameroon ( -LSB- ˌkæməˈruː n -RSB- Cameroun ) , officially the Republic of Cameroon ( République du Cameroun ) , is a country in West Africa . It is bordered by Nigeria to the west ; Chad to the northeast ; the Central African Republic to the east ; and Equatorial Guinea , Gabon , and the Republic of the Congo to the south . Cameroon 's coastline lies on the Bight of Biafra , part of the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean .   French and English are the official languages of Cameroon . The country is often referred to as `` Africa in miniature '' for its geological and cultural diversity . Natural features include beaches , deserts , mountains , rainforests , and savannas . The highest point at almost 4100 m is Mount Cameroon in the Southwest Region of the country , and the largest cities in population-terms are Douala on the Wouri river , its economic capital and main seaport , Yaoundé , its political capital , and Garoua . After independence , the newly united nation joined the Commonwealth of Nations , although the vast majority of its territories had previously been a German colony and , after World War I , a French mandate . The country is well known for its native styles of music , particularly makossa and bikutsi , and for its successful national football team .   Early inhabitants of the territory included the Sao civilisation around Lake Chad and the Baka hunter-gatherers in the southeastern rainforest . Portuguese explorers reached the coast in the 15th century and named the area Rio dos Camarões ( Shrimp River ) , which became Cameroon in English . Fulani soldiers founded the Adamawa Emirate in the north in the 19th century , and various ethnic groups of the west and northwest established powerful chiefdoms and fondoms . Cameroon became a German colony in 1884 known as Kamerun .   After World War I , the territory was divided between France and the United Kingdom as League of Nations mandates . In 1960 , the French-administered part of Cameroon became independent as the Republic of Cameroun under President Ahmadou Ahidjo . The southern part of British Cameroons federated with it in 1961 to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon . The federation was abandoned in 1972 . The country was renamed the United Republic of Cameroon in 1972 and the Republic of Cameroon in 1984 .   Cameroon enjoys relatively high political and social stability . This has permitted the development of agriculture , roads , railways , and large petroleum and timber industries . Nevertheless , large numbers of Cameroonians live in poverty as subsistence farmers . Power lies firmly in the hands of the authoritarian president since 1982 , Paul Biya , and his Cameroon People 's Democratic Movement party . The English-speaking territories of Cameroon have grown increasingly alienated from the government . Politicians and civil society in English-speaking regions have called for greater decentralization and even complete separation or independence ( for example : the Southern Cameroons National Council ) from the former French-governed territories .


Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea ( Guinea Ecuatorial , Guinée équatoriale , Guiné Equatorial ) , officially the Republic of Equatorial Guinea ( República de Guinea Ecuatorial , République de Guinée équatoriale , República da Guiné Equatorial ) , is a country located in Central Africa , with an area of 28000 km2 . Formerly the colony of Spanish Guinea , its post-independence name evokes its location near both the Equator and the Gulf of Guinea . Equatorial Guinea is the only sovereign African state in which Spanish is an official language . , the country had an estimated population of 1,222,245 .   Equatorial Guinea consists of two parts , an insular and a mainland region . The insular region consists of the islands of Bioko ( formerly Fernando Pó ) in the Gulf of Guinea and Annobón , a small volcanic island south of the equator . Bioko Island is the northernmost part of Equatorial Guinea and is the site of the country 's capital , Malabo . The island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe is located between Bioko and Annobón . The mainland region , Río Muni , is bordered by Cameroon on the north and Gabon on the south and east . It is the location of Bata , Equatorial Guinea 's largest city , and Oyala , the country 's planned future capital . Rio Muni also includes several small offshore islands , such as Corisco , Elobey Grande , and Elobey Chico . The country is a member of the African Union , Francophonie , OPEC and the CPLP .   Since the mid-1990s , Equatorial Guinea has become one of sub-Saharan Africa 's largest oil producers . It is the richest country per capita in Africa , and its gross domestic product ( GDP ) adjusted for purchasing power parity ( PPP ) per capita ranks 43rd in the world ; However , the wealth is distributed very unevenly and few people have benefited from the oil riches . The country ranks 144th on the UN 's 2014 Human Development Index . The UN says that less than half of the population has access to clean drinking water and that 20 % of children die before reaching the age of five .   The country 's authoritarian government has one of the worst human rights records in the world , consistently ranking among the `` worst of the worst '' in Freedom House 's annual survey of political and civil rights . Reporters Without Borders ranks President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo among its `` predators '' of press freedom . Human trafficking is a significant problem , with the U.S.Trafficking in Persons Report , 2012 , stating that `` Equatorial Guinea is a source and destination for women and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking . '' The report rates Equatorial Guinea as a `` Tier 3 '' country , the lowest ( worst ) ranking : `` Countries whose governments do not fully comply with the minimum standards and are not making significant efforts to do so . ''


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


Susan Sarandon debuted in An Evening with Richard Nixon in January of 1972.

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 .


An Evening with Richard Nixon An Evening With Richard Nixon , originally billed as An Evening With Richard Nixon and ... , is a play by Gore Vidal which opened at the Shubert Theatre in April 1972 . The play was produced by Hillard Elkins , directed by Edwin Sherin , and starred George S. Irving , Gene Rupert , Humbert Allen Estredo , Stephen D. Newman , Philip Sterling and Robert King . As yet `` undiscovered '' in the ensemble were future stars Maureen Anderman and Susan Sarandon .   The play is a wry examination of the career and Presidency ( up to that pre-Watergate point ) of Richard M. Nixon ( Irving ) . As it starts , two pundits , a William F. Buckley-like Pro ( Rupert ) and a Gore Vidal-like Con ( Estredo ) are debating the worthiness of Nixon . Unable to settle their differences objectively , they magically convene a tribunal of deceased , past Presidents -- Eisenhower ( Sterling ) , Kennedy ( King ) and Washington ( Newman ) -- to review the Nixon career and pass judgment . The rules are strict : anything we observe in the central playing area , which is dedicated to historical recreation , is taken from actual public record ; every word spoken by anyone is what that person actually said . This applies especially to Nixon , whose words , we are assured , remain in their original context . Only Pro , Con and the Tribunal speak freely in the immediate present . And of course , they have much to say .   Previews began on April 18 , and the play ran from April 30 to May 13 , for a total of 14 previews and 16 regular performances .   The published version of the play , prepared prior to rehearsals , features only the tribunal of presidents , but not the characters of Pro and Con , who were added later .


Bad (Michael Jackson song) `` Bad '' is a song by an American artist Michael Jackson . `` Bad '' was released by Epic Records on September 7 , 1987 , as the second single from Jackson 's third major-label and seventh studio album of the same name . The song was written and composed by Jackson and co-produced by Quincy Jones and Jackson . Jackson stated that the song was influenced by a real-life story he had read about .   `` Bad '' was well received by contemporary music critics , with some critics noting that `` Bad '' helped Jackson 's image become edgier during the Bad-era . The song peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 , and remained at the top position of the chart for two weeks , becoming the album 's second number one single , and Jackson 's eighth number one entry on the chart . Internationally , the song was also commercially successful , charting within the top in eleven countries as well as charting within the top five in the United Kingdom , France , Italy , Norwegian , Switzerland and Swedish charts . The song also peaked at number one on the Netherlands and European charts .   The full version of the music video for `` Bad '' , released in August 1987 , and broadcast as a CBS prime time special , was directed entirely by Martin Scorsese and co-starred Wesley Snipes in one of his first appearances prior to being discovered as an actor . The video portrays Michael Jackson and various backup dancers shown performing complex choreography in a subway station . `` Bad '' has been covered and parodied by many different artists since its release and has become a song used frequently in tributes to Jackson after his death in June 2009 .


Beat It `` Beat It '' is a song written and performed by American singer Michael Jackson and produced by Quincy Jones ( with co-production by Jackson ) . It is the third single from the singer 's sixth solo album , Thriller ( 1982 ) . Following the successful chart performances of the Thriller singles `` The Girl Is Mine '' and `` Billie Jean '' , `` Beat It '' was released on February 14 , 1983 as the album 's third single . The song is also notable for its famous video , which featured Jackson bringing two gangs together through the power of music and dance .   `` Beat It '' received the 1984 Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Best Male Rock Vocal Performance , as well as two American Music Awards . It was inducted into the Music Video Producers Hall of Fame . The single , along with its music video , helped propel Thriller into becoming the best-selling album of all time . The single was certified platinum in the United States in 1989 . Rolling Stone placed `` Beat It '' on the 344th spot of its list of `` The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time '' . The song was also ranked number 81 on Rolling Stones `` 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time '' .   In the decades since its release , `` Beat It '' has been covered , parodied , and sampled by numerous artists including Pierce the Veil , Fall Out Boy , Pomplamoose , Justin Bieber , Alvin and the Chipmunks , Fergie , John 5 , `` Weird Al '' Yankovic and Eminem . The song was also featured in the National Highway Safety Commission 's anti-drunk driving campaign .


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 .