Michelle Williams (actress) Michelle Ingrid Williams ( born September 9 , 1980 ) is an American actress . She began her career with television guest appearances , and made her feature film debut in Lassie ( 1994 ) , which earned her a Youth in Film nomination . She gained wider recognition for her role as Jen Lindley on the The WB series Dawson 's Creek from 1998 to 2003 .   Williams received critical acclaim for the role of Alma , wife of Ennis Del Mar , in Brokeback Mountain ( 2005 ) , for which she won a Broadcast Film Critics Association Award and was nominated for the SAG Award , BAFTA Award , Golden Globe , and Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress . She followed this with films such as Martin Scorsese 's Shutter Island ( 2010 ) . Her work in Blue Valentine ( 2010 ) garnered her nominations for the Golden Globe Award and the Academy Award for Best Actress . She won a Golden Globe and an Independent Spirit Award for her portrayal of Marilyn Monroe in My Week with Marilyn ( 2011 ) , which also garnered her BAFTA , SAG , and Academy Award nominations . In 2016 , she received wide acclaim for her performance in the drama Manchester by the Sea , earning her nominations from the BAFTA , SAG , and Academy Award ceremonies .   On Broadway , Williams appeared in a revival of the musical Cabaret in 2014 and a revival of the play Blackbird in 2016 . She received a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play nomination for the latter .


Shutter Island (film) Shutter Island is a 2010 American neo-noir psychological thriller film directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Laeta Kalogridis , based on Dennis Lehane 's 2003 novel of the same name . Leonardo DiCaprio stars as U.S. Marshal Edward `` Teddy '' Daniels who is investigating a psychiatric facility on Shutter Island after one of the patients goes missing . Mark Ruffalo plays his partner officer , Ben Kingsley is the facility 's lead psychiatrist , and Michelle Williams is Daniels ' wife . The film received generally favorable reviews from critics and grossed over $ 294 million at the box office .


Prince (musician) Prince Rogers Nelson ( June 7 , 1958 -- April 21 , 2016 ) was an American singer-songwriter , actor , multi-instrumentalist , philanthropist , dancer and record producer . He was a musical innovator who was known for his eclectic work , flamboyant stage presence , extravagant dress and makeup , and wide vocal range . His music integrates a wide variety of styles , including funk , rock , R&B , new wave , soul , psychedelia , and pop . He has sold over 100 million records worldwide , making him one of the best-selling artists of all time . He won seven Grammy Awards , an American Music Award , a Golden Globe Award , and an Academy Award for the film Purple Rain . He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 , his first year of eligibility . Rolling Stone ranked Prince at number 27 on its list of 100 Greatest Artists , `` the most influential artists of the rock & roll era '' .   Prince was born in Minneapolis , Minnesota , and developed an interest in music as a young child . He signed a recording contract with Warner Bros. at the age of 18 , and released his debut album For You in 1978 . His 1979 album Prince went platinum , and his next three records -- Dirty Mind ( 1980 ) , Controversy ( 1981 ) , and 1999 ( 1982 ) -- continued his success , showcasing Prince 's prominently sexual lyrics and blending of funk , dance , and rock music . In 1984 , he began referring to his backup band as the Revolution and released Purple Rain , the soundtrack album to his eponymous 1984 film debut . It quickly became his most critically and commercially successful release , spending 24 consecutive weeks atop the Billboard 200 and selling over 20 million units worldwide . After releasing the albums Around the World in a Day ( 1985 ) and Parade ( 1986 ) , The Revolution disbanded , and Prince released the double album Sign o ' the Times ( 1987 ) as a solo artist . He released three more solo albums before debuting the New Power Generation band in 1991 .   In 1993 , while in a contractual dispute with Warner Bros. , he changed his stage name to , an unpronounceable symbol also known as the `` Love Symbol '' , and began releasing new albums at a faster pace to remove himself from contractual obligations . He released five records between 1994 and 1996 before signing with Arista Records in 1998 . In 2000 , he began referring to himself as `` Prince '' again . He released 16 albums after that , including the platinum-selling Musicology ( 2004 ) . His final album , Hit n Run Phase Two , was first released on the Tidal streaming service on December 12 , 2015 . Prince died from a fentanyl overdose at his Paisley Park recording studio and home in Chanhassen , Minnesota , on April 21 , 2016 , at the age of 57 .


The United States took part in the Vietnam War to prevent communist takeover of South Vietnam.

Vietnam War The Vietnam War ( Chiến tranh Việt Nam ) , also known as the Second Indochina War , and known in Vietnam as Resistance War Against America ( Kháng chiến chống Mỹ ) or simply the American War , was a war that occurred in Vietnam , Laos , and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975 . It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vietnam and the government of South Vietnam . The North Vietnamese army was supported by the Soviet Union , China and other communist allies and the South Vietnamese army was supported by the United States , South Korea , Australia , Thailand and other anti-communist allies . The war is therefore considered a Cold War-era proxy war .   The Viet Cong ( also known as the National Liberation Front , or NLF ) , a South Vietnamese communist common front aided by the North , fought a guerrilla war against anti-communist forces in the region , while the People 's Army of Vietnam , also known as the North Vietnamese Army ( NVA ) , engaged in more conventional warfare , at times committing large units to battle . As the war continued , the military actions of the Viet Cong decreased as the role and engagement of the NVA grew . U.S. and South Vietnamese forces relied on air superiority and overwhelming firepower to conduct search and destroy operations , involving ground forces , artillery , and airstrikes . In the course of the war , the U.S. conducted a large-scale strategic bombing campaign against North Vietnam .   The North Vietnamese government and the Viet Cong were fighting to reunify Vietnam . They viewed the conflict as a colonial war and a continuation of the First Indochina War against forces from France and later on the United States . The U.S. government viewed its involvement in the war as a way to prevent a communist takeover of South Vietnam . This was part of the domino theory of a wider containment policy , with the stated aim of stopping the spread of communism worldwide .   Beginning in 1950 , American military advisors arrived in what was then French Indochina.The Military Assistance Advisory Group , Indochina ( with an authorized strength of 128 men ) was set up in September 1950 with a mission to oversee the use and distribution of US military equipment by the French and their allies . U.S. involvement escalated in the early 1960s , with troop levels tripling in 1961 and again in 1962 . U.S. involvement escalated further following the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin incident , in which a U.S. destroyer clashed with North Vietnamese fast attack craft , which was followed by the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution , which gave the U.S. president authorization to increase U.S. military presence . Regular U.S. combat units were deployed beginning in 1965 . Operations crossed international borders : bordering areas of Laos and Cambodia were heavily bombed by U.S. forces as American involvement in the war peaked in 1968 , the same year that the communist side launched the Tet Offensive . The Tet Offensive failed in its goal of overthrowing the South Vietnamese government , but became the turning point in the war , as it persuaded a large segment of the U.S. population that its government 's claims of progress toward winning the war were illusory despite many years of massive U.S. military aid to South Vietnam .   Gradual withdrawal of U.S. ground forces began as part of `` Vietnamization '' , which aimed to end American involvement in the war while transferring the task of fighting the communists to the South Vietnamese themselves . Despite the Paris Peace Accord , which was signed by all parties in January 1973 , the fighting continued . In the U.S. and the Western world , a large anti-Vietnam War movement developed as part of a larger counterculture . The war changed the dynamics between the Eastern and Western Blocs , and altered North -- South relations .   Direct U.S. military involvement ended on 15 August 1973 . The capture of Saigon by the North Vietnamese Army in April 1975 marked the end of the war , and North and South Vietnam were reunified the following year . The war exacted a huge human cost in terms of fatalities ( see Vietnam War casualties ) . Estimates of the number of Vietnamese soldiers and civilians killed vary from 966,000 to 3.8 million . Some 240,000 -- 300,000 Cambodians , 20,000 -- 62,000 Laotians , and 58,220 U.S. service members also died in the conflict , and a further 1,626 remain missing in action .


Indochina Wars The Indochina Wars ( Chiến tranh Đông Dương ) were a series of wars fought in Southeast Asia from 1946 until 1989 , between communist Indochinese forces against mainly French , South Vietnamese , American , Cambodian , Laotian and Chinese forces . The term `` Indochina '' originally referred to French Indochina , which included the current states of Vietnam , Laos and Cambodia . , it applies largely to a geographic region , rather than to a political area . The wars included :  The First Indochina War ( called the Indochina War in France and the French War in Vietnam ) began after the end of World War II in 1945 and lasted until the French defeat in 1954 . After a long campaign of resistance against the French and the Japanese , Viet Minh forces had claimed a victory ( the August Revolution ) after Japanese and Vichy French forces surrendered in the North on 15 August 1945 . In the War in Vietnam ( 1945 -- 46 ) , British forces temporarily occupied the South , starting from 13 September 1945 , only to restore French colonial control in 1946 . In the United Nations and through their alliance with the United Kingdom and the United States , the French demanded return of their former Indochina colony prior to agreeing to participate in the NATO alliance ( founded in 1949 ) opposing Soviet expansion beyond the countries of the Warsaw Pact ( founded in 1955 ) in the Cold War . The communist/nationalist Viet Minh , whom the Allies had supported during the war , continued fighting the French with support from China and the Soviet Union , ultimately forcing the NATO-backed French out of Indochina ( 1954 ) .  The Second Indochina War ( called the Vietnam War in the West or the American War in Vietnam ) began as a conflict between the United States-backed South Vietnamese government and its opponents , both the North Vietnamese-based communist Viet Cong ( National Liberation Front ) and the People 's Army of Vietnam ( PAVN ) , known in the West as the North Vietnamese Army ( NVA ) . The conflict began in the late 1950s and lasted until 1975 when the North Vietnamese conquered South Vietnam . The United States , which had supported France during the first Indochina war , backed the South Vietnam government in opposition to the National Liberation Front and the Communist-allied NVA . The North benefited from military and financial support from China and the Soviet Union , members of the Communist bloc . Fighting also occurred during this time in Cambodia between the US-backed government , the NVA , and the Communist-backed Khmer Rouge ( known as the Cambodian Civil War , 1967 -- 1975 ) and in Laos between the US-backed government , the NVA , and the Communist-backed Pathet Lao ( known as the Laotian Civil War or Secret War , 1962 -- 1975 ) .   The Third Indochina War was a period of prolonged conflict following the Vietnam War , in which several wars were fought :   The Cambodian -- Vietnamese War began when Vietnam invaded Cambodia and deposed the genocidal Khmer Rouge régime . The war lasted from May 1975 to December 1989 .   The Sino-Vietnamese War was a short war fought in February -- March 1979 between the People 's Republic of China and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam . The Chinese launched a Punitive expedition in revenge for the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia , and withdrew a month later to prewar positions . Skirmishes along the border would continue until 1990 .   After the triumph of the Pathet Lao , an anti-communist insurgency in Laos lasted until most Hmong insurgents surrendered in 2007 , though some resistance cells remain active . Thailand , which supported the Lao insurgents , as well as the anti-Vietnamese forces in the Third Indochina War , fought a few skirmishes with Vietnam in 1984 , and a short conflict with Laos in 1987 .   The Communist Party of Thailand fought an insurgency from 1965-1989 . They received backing from Laos and Vietnam from 1975-1979 , however were expelled from their bases and lost most of their supply lines after they sided with the Cambodian-Chinese aligned forces , rather than the pro-Soviet Vietnamese and Laotian regimes .


Kick-Ass is based on a fantasy comic book by Mark Millar.

Kick-Ass (film) Kick-Ass is a 2010 British-American superhero black comedy film based on the comic book of the same name by Mark Millar and John Romita , Jr. . The film was directed by Matthew Vaughn , who produced with Brad Pitt and co-wrote the screenplay with Jane Goldman . Its general release was on 25 March 2010 in the United Kingdom and on 16 April 2010 in the United States . It is the first installment of the Kick-Ass film series .   It tells the story of an ordinary teenager , Dave Lizewski ( Aaron Johnson ) , who sets out to become a real-life superhero , calling himself `` Kick-Ass '' . Dave gets caught up in a bigger fight when he meets Big Daddy ( Nicolas Cage ) , a former cop who , in his quest to bring down the crime boss Frank D'Amico ( Mark Strong ) and his son ( Christopher Mintz-Plasse ) ( Red Mist ) , has trained his eleven-year-old daughter ( Chloë Grace Moretz ) to be the ruthless vigilante Hit-Girl .   Despite having generated some controversy for its profanity and violence performed by a child , Kick-Ass was well received by both critics and audiences . In 2011 it won the Empire Award for Best British Film . The film has gained a strong cult following since its release on DVD and Blu-ray . A sequel , written and directed by Jeff Wadlow and produced by Vaughn , was released in August 2013 , with Johnson , Mintz-Plasse , and Moretz reprising their roles .


John Adams John Adams ( October 30 -LSB- O.S. October 19 -RSB- 1735 -- July 4 , 1826 ) was an American patriot who served as the second President of the United States ( 1797 -- 1801 ) and the first Vice President ( 1789 -- 97 ) . He was a lawyer , diplomat , statesman , political theorist , and , as a Founding Father , a leader of the movement for American independence from Great Britain . He was also a dedicated diarist and correspondent , particularly with his wife and closest advisor Abigail .   He collaborated with his cousin , revolutionary leader Samuel Adams , but he established his own prominence prior to the American Revolution . After the Boston Massacre , he provided a successful ( though unpopular ) legal defense of the accused British soldiers , in the face of severe local anti-British sentiment and driven by his devotion to the right to counsel and the `` protect -LSB- ion -RSB- of innocence '' . Adams was a delegate from Massachusetts to the Continental Congress , where he played a leading role in persuading Congress to declare independence . He assisted Thomas Jefferson in drafting the Declaration of Independence in 1776 , and was its foremost advocate in the Congress . As a diplomat in Europe , he helped negotiate the eventual peace treaty with Great Britain , and acquired vital governmental loans from Amsterdam bankers . Adams was the primary author of the Massachusetts Constitution in 1780 which influenced American political theory , as did his earlier Thoughts on Government ( 1776 ) .   Adams 's credentials as a revolutionary secured for him two terms as President George Washington 's vice president ( 1789 to 1797 ) and also his own election in 1796 as the second president . In his single term as president , he encountered fierce criticism from the Jeffersonian Republicans , as well as the dominant faction in his own Federalist Party , led by his rival Alexander Hamilton . Adams signed the controversial Alien and Sedition Acts , and built up the army and navy in the face of an undeclared naval `` Quasi-War '' with France . The major accomplishment of his presidency was a peaceful resolution of the conflict in the face of Hamilton 's opposition . Due to his strong posture on defense , Adams is `` often called the father of the American Navy '' . He was the first U.S. president to reside in the executive mansion , now known as the White House .   In 1800 , Adams lost re-election to Thomas Jefferson and retired to Massachusetts . He eventually resumed his friendship with Jefferson upon the latter 's own retirement by initiating a correspondence which lasted fourteen years . He and his wife established a family of politicians , diplomats , and historians now referred to as the Adams political family . Adams was the father of John Quincy Adams , the sixth President of the United States . He died on the fiftieth anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence , and the same day as Jefferson . Modern historians in the aggregate have favorably ranked his administration .


The Illusionist was a success critically.

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


An anti-nuclear antibodies subtype is anti-Scl-70 antibodies.

Anti-nuclear antibody Antinuclear antibodies ( ANAs , also known as antinuclear factor or ANF ) are autoantibodies that bind to contents of the cell nucleus . In normal individuals , the immune system produces antibodies to foreign proteins ( antigens ) but not to human proteins ( autoantigens ) . In some individuals , antibodies to human antigens are produced .   There are many subtypes of ANAs such as anti-Ro antibodies , anti-La antibodies , anti-Sm antibodies , anti-nRNP antibodies , anti-Scl-70 antibodies , anti-dsDNA antibodies , anti-histone antibodies , antibodies to nuclear pore complexes , anti-centromere antibodies and anti-sp100 antibodies . Each of these antibody subtypes binds to different proteins or protein complexes within the nucleus . They are found in many disorders including autoimmunity , cancer and infection , with different prevalences of antibodies depending on the condition . This allows the use of ANAs in the diagnosis of some autoimmune disorders , including systemic lupus erythematosus , Sjögren 's syndrome , scleroderma , mixed connective tissue disease , polymyositis , dermatomyositis , autoimmune hepatitis and drug induced lupus .   The ANA test detects the autoantibodies present in an individual 's blood serum . The common tests used for detecting and quantifying ANAs are indirect immunofluorescence and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA ) . In immunofluorescence , the level of autoantibodies is reported as a titre . This is the highest dilution of the serum at which autoantibodies are still detectable . Positive autoantibody titres at a dilution equal to or greater than 1:160 are usually considered as clinically significant . Positive titres of less than 1:160 are present in up to 20 % of the healthy population , especially the elderly . Although positive titres of 1:160 or higher are strongly associated with autoimmune disorders , they are also found in 5 % of healthy individuals . Autoantibody screening is useful in the diagnosis of autoimmune disorders and monitoring levels helps to predict the progression of disease . A positive ANA test is seldom useful if other clinical or laboratory data supporting a diagnosis are not present .


Tidewater region is in southeast Virginia and southern North Carolina.

Tidewater region The Tidewater region is a geographic area of southeast Virginia and northeastern North Carolina , part of the Atlantic coastal plain in the United States of America . Portions of Maryland facing the Chesapeake Bay are also given this designation . The area gains its name because of the effects of the changing tides on local rivers , sounds , and the ocean . The area is generally flat and low and composed of tidal marsh and large expanses of swamp . Much of the area is covered with pocosin and the higher areas are used for agricultural farmlands . Geographically , in North Carolina and Virginia the Tidewater area is the land between the Suffolk Scarp and the Atlantic Ocean . The Hampton Roads area of Virginia is considered to be in the Tidewater . Extreme Southern Maryland and parts of the lower Eastern Shore round out the northern fringe of the region on the Chesapeake Bay .   The term tidewater may be correctly applied to all portions of any area , including Virginia , where the water level is affected by the tides ( more specifically , where the water level rises when the tide comes in ) . In the case of Virginia , the Tidewater region includes the land east of the Fall Line , the natural border with the Piedmont Region . It includes Hampton Roads , the rest of the Virginia Peninsula , the Middle Peninsula , the Northern Neck , and the Eastern Shore .   Planters in the early American colonies extended their tobacco productions above the `` fall line , '' where waterfalls or rapids mark the end of the Tidewater and the beginning of the foothill region known as the Piedmont .   Tidewater is host to flora commonly associated with the South Atlantic pine forests and lower Southeast Coastal Plain maritime flora , the latter found primarily in southeastern Virginia .


Thiokol was also recognized as Cordant Technologies Inc.

Thiokol Thiokol ( variously Thiokol Chemical Corporation , Morton-Thiokol Inc. , Cordant Technologies Inc. , Thiokol Propulsion , AIC Group , ATK Thiokol ; finally ATK Launch Systems Group before becoming part of Orbital ATK ) was an American corporation concerned initially with rubber and related chemicals , and later with rocket and missile propulsion systems . Its name is a portmanteau of the Greek words for sulfur ( θειον `` theion '' ) and glue ( κολλα `` kolla '' ) , an allusion to the company 's initial product , Thiokol polymer .   The Thiokol Chemical Company was founded in 1929 . Its initial business was a range of synthetic rubber and polymer sealants , and Thiokol was a major supplier of liquid polymer sealants during World War II . When scientists at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory discovered that Thiokol 's polymers made ideal binders for solid rocket fuels , Thiokol moved into the new field , opening laboratories at Elkton , Maryland , and later production facilities at Elkton and at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville , Alabama . Huntsville produced the XM33 Pollux , TX-18 Falcon , and TX-135 Nike-Zeus systems . It closed in 1996 . In the mid-1950s the company bought extensive lands in Utah for its rocket test range , and in 1986 was found at fault for the destruction of the Space Shuttle Challenger and the deaths of its astronauts . Thiokol continues to have major operations in the state , at Magna and Promontory ( manufacture of the Space Shuttle 's solid rocket motors ) , and its current headquarters at Brigham City . the company employed over 15,000 people worldwide and records annual sales of around .


James Marsden accrued importance with his performance of Cyclops.

James Marsden James Paul Marsden ( born September 18 , 1973 ) is an American actor , singer and former Versace model . Marsden began his acting career guest-starring in television shows Saved by the Bell : The New Class , Touched by an Angel , and Party of Five . He gained prominence with his portrayal of Scott Summers/Cyclops in the X-Men film series and starred in 2006 's Superman Returns . Since 2016 , Marsden has starred as gunslinger Teddy Flood , a sentient android , in the HBO science fiction-western thriller series Westworld , as part of the main ensemble .   Following his breakthrough in comic book films , Marsden went on to star in various genre films including 2007 's Hairspray which was a critical and commercial success and won many awards for its ensemble cast . As Corny Collins , he sang two songs for the film 's soundtrack which has been certified Platinum by the RIAA . He 's had starring roles in family-friendly films such as Enchanted and Hop and leading man roles in 27 Dresses and The Best of Me .   Marsden later starred in a range of independent films such as Small Apartments , Bachelorette , and Robot & Frank . He also returned to television guest-starring in Modern Family and playing Liz Lemon 's love interest , Criss Chros in 30 Rock in a supporting role . Marsden then portrayed President John F. Kennedy in Lee Daniels ' The Butler and had a supporting role as an antagonist in Anchorman 2 : The Legend Continues .


Judy Garland Judy Garland ( born Frances Ethel Gumm ; June 10 , 1922 -- June 22 , 1969 ) was an American singer , actress , and vaudevillian . She was renowned for her contralto vocals and attained international stardom that continued throughout a career spanning more than 40 years as an actress in musical and dramatic roles , as a recording artist , and on concert stages .   Garland began performing in vaudeville with her two older sisters and was signed to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as a teenager . She made more than two dozen films with MGM , including nine with Mickey Rooney . Garland 's most famous role was as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz ( 1939 ) . Her other roles at MGM included Meet Me in St. Louis ( 1944 ) , The Harvey Girls ( 1946 ) and Easter Parade ( 1948 ) . After 15 years , she was released from the studio and made record-breaking concert appearances , a successful recording career , and her own Emmy-nominated television series . Film appearances became fewer in her later years , but included two Academy Award nominated performances in A Star Is Born ( 1954 ) and Judgment at Nuremberg ( 1961 ) .   Garland received a Golden Globe Award , a Juvenile Academy Award , and a Special Tony Award , and at 39 , became the youngest and first female recipient of the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement in the film industry . She was the first woman to win a Grammy for Album of the Year for her live recording of Judy at Carnegie Hall . In 1997 , Garland was posthumously awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award . Several of her recordings have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame . In 1999 , the American Film Institute placed her among the 10 greatest female stars of classic American cinema .   From an early age , Garland struggled in her personal life . The pressures of adolescent stardom sent her to a psychiatrist at age 18 . Her self-image was influenced by film executives who said she was unattractive and manipulated her on-screen physical appearance . She was plagued by financial instability , often owing hundreds of thousands of dollars in back taxes . She married five times , with her first four marriages ending in divorce . She also had a long addiction with drugs and alcohol , which ultimately led to her death from a barbiturate overdose at the age of 47 .


Norse mythology Norse mythology is the body of mythology of the North Germanic people stemming from Norse paganism and continuing after the Christianization of Scandinavia and into the Scandinavian folklore of the modern period . The northernmost extension of Germanic mythology , Norse mythology consists of tales of various deities , beings , and heroes derived from numerous sources from both before and after the pagan period , including medieval manuscripts , archaeological representations , and folk tradition .   Numerous gods are mentioned in the source texts such as the hammer-wielding , humanity-protecting thunder-god Thor , who relentlessly fights his foes ; the one-eyed , raven-flanked god Odin , who craftily pursues knowledge throughout the worlds and bestowed among humanity the runic alphabet ; the beautiful , seiðr-working , feathered cloak-clad goddess Freyja who rides to battle to choose among the slain ; the vengeful , skiing goddess Skaði , who prefers the wolf howls of the winter mountains to the seashore ; the powerful god Njörðr , who may calm both sea and fire and grant wealth and land ; the god Freyr , whose weather and farming associations bring peace and pleasure to humanity ; the goddess Iðunn , who keeps apples that grant eternal youthfulness ; the mysterious god Heimdallr , who is born of nine mothers , can hear grass grow , has gold teeth , and possesses a resounding horn ; the jötunn Loki , who brings tragedy to the gods by engineering the death of the goddess Frigg 's beautiful son Baldr ; and numerous other deities .   Most of the surviving mythology centers on the plights of the gods and their interaction with various other beings , such as humanity and the jötnar , beings who may be friends , lovers , foes or family members of the gods . The cosmos in Norse mythology consists of Nine Worlds that flank a central cosmological tree , Yggdrasil . Units of time and elements of the cosmology are personified as deities or beings . Various forms of a creation myth are recounted , where the world is created from the flesh of the primordial being Ymir , and the first two humans are Ask and Embla . These worlds are foretold to be reborn after the events of Ragnarök , when an immense battle occurs between the gods and their enemies , and the world is enveloped in flames , only to be reborn anew . There the surviving gods will meet , and the land will be fertile and green , and two humans will repopulate the world .   Norse mythology has been the subject of scholarly discourse since the 17th century , when key texts were brought to the attention of the intellectual circles of Europe . By way of comparative mythology and historical linguistics , scholars have identified elements of Germanic mythology reaching as far back as Proto-Indo-European mythology . In the modern period , the Romanticist Viking revival re-awoke an interest in the subject matter , and references to Norse mythology may now be found throughout modern popular culture . The myths have further been revived in a religious context among adherents of Germanic Neopaganism .


Huginn and Muninn In Norse mythology , Huginn ( from Old Norse `` thought '' ) and Muninn ( Old Norse `` memory '' or `` mind '' ) are a pair of ravens that fly all over the world , Midgard , and bring information to the god Odin . Huginn and Muninn are attested in the Poetic Edda , compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources : the Prose Edda and Heimskringla , written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson ; in the Third Grammatical Treatise , compiled in the 13th century by Óláfr Þórðarson ; and in the poetry of skalds . The names of the ravens are sometimes modernly anglicized as Hugin and Munin .   In the Poetic Edda , a disguised Odin expresses that he fears that they may not return from their daily flights . The Prose Edda explains that Odin is referred to as `` raven-god '' due to his association with Huginn and Muninn . In the Prose Edda and the Third Grammatical Treatise , the two ravens are described as perching on Odin 's shoulders . Heimskringla details that Odin gave Huginn and Muninn the ability to speak .   Migration Period golden bracteates , Vendel era helmet plates , a pair of identical Germanic Iron Age bird-shaped brooches , Viking Age objects depicting a moustached man wearing a helmet , and a portion of the 10th or 11th century Thorwald 's Cross may depict Odin with one of the ravens . Huginn and Muninn 's role as Odin 's messengers has been linked to shamanic practices , the Norse raven banner , general raven symbolism among the Germanic peoples , and the Norse concepts of the fylgja and the hamingja .


Baldr Baldr ( also Balder , Baldur ) is a god in Norse mythology , and a son of the god Odin and the goddess Frigg . He has numerous brothers , such as Thor and Váli .   In the 12th century , Danish accounts by Saxo Grammaticus and other Danish Latin chroniclers recorded a euhemerized account of his story . Compiled in Iceland in the 13th century , but based on much older Old Norse poetry , the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda contain numerous references to the death of Baldr as both a great tragedy to the Æsir and a harbinger of Ragnarök .   According to Gylfaginning , a book of Snorri Sturluson 's Prose Edda , Baldr 's wife is Nanna and their son is Forseti . In Gylfaginning , Snorri relates that Baldr had the greatest ship ever built , named Hringhorni , and that there is no place more beautiful than his hall , Breidablik .


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


Thor In Norse mythology , Thor ( -LSB- θɔr -RSB- from Old Norse Þórr ) is a hammer-wielding god associated with thunder , lightning , storms , oak trees , strength , the protection of mankind , and also hallowing and fertility . The cognate deity in wider Germanic mythology and paganism was known in Old English as Þunor and in Old High German as Donar ( runic þonar ) , stemming from a Common Germanic * Þunraz ( meaning `` thunder '' ) .   Ultimately stemming from Proto-Indo-European religion , Thor is a prominently mentioned god throughout the recorded history of the Germanic peoples , from the Roman occupation of regions of Germania , to the tribal expansions of the Migration Period , to his high popularity during the Viking Age , when , in the face of the process of the Christianization of Scandinavia , emblems of his hammer , Mjölnir , were worn and Norse pagan personal names containing the name of the god bear witness to his popularity .   Into the modern period , Thor continued to be acknowledged in rural folklore throughout Germanic regions . Thor is frequently referred to in place names , the day of the week Thursday ( `` Thor 's day '' from Old English Thunresdæg , ` Thunor 's day ' ) bears his name , and names stemming from the pagan period containing his own continue to be used today .   In Norse mythology , largely recorded in Iceland from traditional material stemming from Scandinavia , numerous tales and information about Thor are provided . In these sources , Thor bears at least fourteen names , is the husband of the golden-haired goddess Sif , is the lover of the jötunn Járnsaxa , and is generally described as fierce eyed , red haired and red bearded . With Sif , Thor fathered the goddess ( and possible valkyrie ) Þrúðr ; with Járnsaxa , he fathered Magni ; with a mother whose name is not recorded , he fathered Móði , and he is the stepfather of the god Ullr . The same sources list Thor as the son of the god Odin and the personified earth , Jörð , and by way of Odin , Thor has numerous brothers . Thor has two servants , Þjálfi and Röskva , rides in a cart or chariot pulled by two goats , Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr ( that he eats and resurrects ) , and is ascribed three dwellings ( Bilskirnir , Þrúðheimr , and Þrúðvangr ) . Thor wields the mountain-crushing hammer , Mjölnir , wears the belt Megingjörð and the iron gloves Járngreipr , and owns the staff Gríðarvölr . Thor 's exploits , including his relentless slaughter of his foes and fierce battles with the monstrous serpent Jörmungandr -- and their foretold mutual deaths during the events of Ragnarök -- are recorded throughout sources for Norse mythology .   Thor has inspired numerous works of art and references to Thor appear in modern popular culture . Like other Germanic deities , veneration of Thor is revived in the modern period in Heathenry .


List of names of Odin Odin ( Old Norse Óðinn ) , the chief god of Norse mythology , was referred to by more than 200 names in the skaldic and Eddic traditions .   Then said Gangleri : `` Exceeding many names have ye given him ; and , by my faith , it must indeed be a goodly wit that knows all the lore and the examples of what chances have brought about each of these names . '' Then Hárr made answer : `` It is truly a vast sum of knowledge to gather together and set forth fittingly . But it is briefest to tell thee that most of his names have been given him by reason of this chance : there being so many branches of tongues in the world , all peoples believed that it was needful for them to turn his name into their own tongue , by which they might the better invoke him and entreat him on their own behalf . But some occasions for these names arose in his wanderings ; and that matter is recorded in tales . Nor canst thou ever be called a wise man if thou shalt not be able to tell of those great events . '' Gylfaginning , XX , Brodeur 's translation


Midgard Midgard ( an anglicised form of Old Norse Miðgarðr Old English Middangeard , Swedish/Danish Midgård , Old Saxon Middilgard , Old High German Mittilagart , Gothic Midjun-gards ; literally `` middle yard '' ) is the name for Earth ( in the sense of oikoumene ) inhabited by and known to humans in early Germanic cosmology , and specifically one of the Nine Worlds in Norse mythology .


Germanic mythology Germanic mythology consists of the body of myths native to the Germanic peoples . Commonly featuring narratives focused on Germanic deities and a large variety of other entities , Germanic mythology dates from the Proto-Germanic period and reaches beyond the Christianization of the Germanic peoples and into modern Germanic folklore . Germanic mythology includes Norse mythology , Anglo-Saxon mythology , and Continental Germanic mythology .   As the Germanic languages developed from Proto-Indo-European language , Germanic mythology is ultimately a development of Proto-Indo-European religion . The study of Germanic mythology has remained an important element of Germanic philology since the development of the field and the topic is an integral component of Heathenry , the modern revival of Germanic paganism .


Sons of Odin Various gods and men appear as Sons of Odin or Sons of Wodan/Wotan or Sons of Woden in old Old Norse and Old High German and Old English texts .


Geri and Freki In Norse mythology , Geri and Freki ( Old Norse , both meaning `` the ravenous '' or `` greedy one '' ) are two wolves which are said to accompany the god Odin . They are attested in the Poetic Edda , a collection of epic poetry compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources , in the Prose Edda , written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson , and in the poetry of skalds . The pair has been compared to similar figures found in Greek , Roman and Vedic mythology , and may also be connected to beliefs surrounding the Germanic `` wolf-warrior bands '' , the Úlfhéðnar .


British Airways (BA) is the third largest behind EasyJet in the UK based on passengers carried.

British Airways British Airways ( BA ) is the largest airline in the United Kingdom based on fleet size , or the second largest , behind easyJet , when measured by passengers carried . The airline is based in Waterside near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport . In January 2011 BA merged with Iberia , creating the International Airlines Group ( IAG ) , a holding company registered in Madrid , Spain . IAG is the world 's third-largest airline group in terms of annual revenue and the second-largest in Europe . It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and in the FTSE 100 Index .   BA was created in 1974 after a British Airways Board was established by the British government to manage the two nationalised airline corporations , British Overseas Airways Corporation and British European Airways , and two regional airlines , Cambrian Airways from Cardiff , and Northeast Airlines from Newcastle upon Tyne . On 31 March 1974 , all four companies were merged to form British Airways . After almost 13 years as a state company , BA was privatised in February 1987 as part of a wider privatisation plan by the Conservative government . The carrier expanded with the acquisition of British Caledonian in 1987 , Dan-Air in 1992 , and British Midland International in 2012 .   A long-time Boeing customer , BA ordered 59 Airbus A320 family aircraft in August 1998 . In 2007 it purchased 12 Airbus A380s and 24 Boeing 787 Dreamliners , marking the start of its long-haul fleet replacement . The centrepiece of the airline 's long-haul fleet is the Boeing 777 , with 58 in the fleet . BA is the largest operator of the Boeing 747-400 , with 41 registered to the airline . It is a founding member of the Oneworld airline alliance , along with American Airlines , Cathay Pacific , Qantas , and the now defunct Canadian Airlines . The alliance has since grown to become the third largest , after SkyTeam and Star Alliance .


Serena Williams Serena Jameka Williams ( born September 26 , 1981 ) is an American professional tennis player . The Women 's Tennis Association ( WTA ) has ranked her world no. 1 in singles on eight occasions , from 2002 to 2017 . She became the world no. 1 for the first time on July 8 , 2002 . On the sixth occasion , she held the ranking for 186 consecutive weeks , tying the record set by Steffi Graf for the most consecutive weeks as world no. 1 by a female tennis player . In total , she has been world no. 1 for 319 weeks , which ranks her third in the Open Era among female tennis players . Williams ' accomplishments and success in professional tennis have led some commentators , players , and sports writers to regard her as the greatest female tennis player of all time .   Williams holds the most Grand Slam titles in singles , doubles , and mixed doubles combined amongst active players . Her record of 39 Grand Slam titles puts her third on the all-time list and second in the open era : 23 in singles , 14 in women 's doubles , and 2 in mixed doubles . She is the most recent female player to have held all four Grand Slam singles titles simultaneously ( 2002 -- 03 and 2014 -- 15 ) and the third player to achieve this record twice after Rod Laver and Steffi Graf . She is also the most recent player , together with her sister Venus Williams , to have held all four Grand Slam women 's doubles titles simultaneously ( 2009 -- 10 ) .   Her total of 23 Grand Slam singles titles marks the record for the most Grand Slam wins by a tennis player in the Open Era , and is second on the all-time list behind Margaret Court ( 24 ) . She is the only tennis player in history ( man or woman ) to have won singles titles at least six times in three of the four Grand Slam tournaments , and the only player ever to have won two of the four Grand Slams seven times each ( seven Wimbledon titles and seven Australian Open titles ) . She is also the only tennis player to have won 10 Grand Slam singles titles in two separate decades . She has won an all-time record of 13 Grand Slam singles titles on hardcourt . Williams holds the Open Era record for most titles won at the Australian Open ( 7 ) and shares the Open Era record for most titles won at the US Open with Chris Evert ( 6 ) . She also holds an all-time record for the most singles matches won at the Grand Slams ( man or woman ) with 316 matches ( through the 2017 Australian Open ) .   She has won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles with her sister Venus , and the pair are unbeaten in Grand Slam doubles finals . As a team , she and Venus have the third most women 's doubles grand slam titles , behind the 18 titles of Natasha Zvereva ( 14 with Gigi Fernández ) and the record 20 titles won by Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver . Williams is also a five-time winner of the WTA Tour Championships in the singles division . Serena has also won four Olympic gold medals , one in women 's singles and three in women 's doubles -- an all-time record shared with her sister , Venus . The arrival of the Williams sisters has been credited with ushering in a new era of power and athleticism on the women 's professional tennis tour . Williams was the highest paid female athlete in 2016 , earning $ 28.9 million in prize money and endorsements . She has won the Laureus Sportswoman of the Year award three times ( 2003 , 2010 , 2016 ) , and in December 2015 , she was named Sportsperson of the Year by Sports Illustrated magazine .


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


Joe Manganiello has been employed with Matt Bomer.

Joe Manganiello Joseph Michael Manganiello ( -LSB- ˌmæŋɡəˈnɛloʊ -RSB- ; -LSB- maŋɡaˈnjɛllo -RSB- ; born December 28 , 1976 ) is an American actor , director , producer , author and philanthropist . He played Flash Thompson in Sam Raimi 's Spider-Man trilogy and had various recurring roles in television on ER , How I Met Your Mother , and One Tree Hill , before landing his breakout role as werewolf Alcide Herveaux on the HBO television series True Blood . In 2011 , he was voted `` Favorite Pop-Culture Werewolf of All Time '' by the readers of Entertainment Weekly , and one of Men 's Health `` 100 Fittest Men of All Time '' .   Manganiello has appeared in films such as Magic Mike , What to Expect When You 're Expecting , and Sabotage . In late 2013 , he became a published author when his first book , Evolution , was released by Simon & Schuster 's Gallery Books . He is active with several charities , including Children 's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC , and he serves on the committee of The Art of Elysium .


Magic Mike Magic Mike is a 2012 American comedy-drama film directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Channing Tatum , Alex Pettyfer , Matt Bomer , Joe Manganiello , and Matthew McConaughey . The plot revolves around Adam , a 19-year-old who enters the world of male stripping , guided by Mike Lane , who has been in the business for six years .   The film is loosely based on the experiences of Tatum , who was an 18-year-old stripper in San Francisco , California . Magic Mike was filmed in several locations around west central Florida . The film premiered as the closing film for the 2012 Los Angeles Film Festival on June 24 , 2012 , and was widely released by Warner Bros. on June 29 , 2012 , and was a critical and commercial success .   A sequel , Magic Mike XXL directed by Gregory Jacobs , was released on July 1 , 2015 .


David Schwimmer David Lawrence Schwimmer ( born November 2 , 1966 ) is an American actor , director , and producer . He was born in Flushing , Queens , New York , and his family moved to Los Angeles when he was 2 . He began his acting career performing in school plays at Beverly Hills High School . In 1988 , he graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Arts in theater and speech . After graduation , Schwimmer co-founded the Lookingglass Theatre Company . For much of the late 1980s , he lived in Los Angeles as a struggling , unemployed actor .   He starred in the television movie A Deadly Silence in 1989 and appeared in a number of television roles , including on L.A. Law , The Wonder Years , NYPD Blue , and Monty , in the early 1990s . Schwimmer later gained worldwide recognition for playing Ross Geller in the sitcom Friends , for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1995 . His first leading film role was in The Pallbearer ( 1996 ) , followed by roles in Kissing a Fool ( 1998 ) , Six Days , Seven Nights ( 1998 ) , Apt Pupil , and Picking Up the Pieces ( 2000 ) . He was then cast in the miniseries Band of Brothers ( 2001 ) as Herbert Sobel .   After the series finale of Friends in 2004 , Schwimmer was cast as the title character in the 2005 drama Duane Hopwood . Other film roles include the voice of Melman the Giraffe in the computer-animated Madagascar film franchise , the dark comedy Big Nothing ( 2006 ) , and the thriller Nothing But the Truth ( 2008 ) . Schwimmer made his West End stage debut in the leading role in Some Girl ( s ) in 2005 . In 2006 , he made his Broadway debut in The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial . Schwimmer made his feature film directorial debut with the 2007 comedy Run Fatboy Run . The following year he made his Off-Broadway directorial debut in the 2008 production , Fault Lines .   In 2016 , he starred as lawyer Robert Kardashian in American Crime Story , for which he received his second Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie .


Duane Hopwood Duane Hopwood is a 2005 film featured in the Sundance Film Festival starring David Schwimmer and Janeane Garofalo , with a supporting cast featuring Judah Friedlander , Dick Cavett , Susan Lynch , John Krasinski , Rachel Covey , and Mia Dillon . The movie was written and directed by Matt Mulhern and released by IFC Films in November 2005 .   The film 's plot centers on the title character ( Schwimmer ) , an alcoholic whose life is spiraling downward rapidly after his divorce from Linda ( Garofalo ) .   The movie , writer/director Matt Mulhern 's second film , was well received by critics , named by Roger Ebert as `` one of the best movies of 2005 . '' He also said that David Schwimmer gave a `` career-transforming performance . '' IFC did not release the film in New York City or Los Angeles , focusing instead on Philadelphia , Tucson and Kansas City . HBO released the DVD in April 2006 and Showtime and The Movie Channel began the cable run in December 2006 .


Chris Hardwick began hosting Ministry of Laughs in 2011.

Chris Hardwick Christopher Ryan Hardwick ( born November 23 , 1971 ) is an American stand-up comedian , voice actor , television host , writer , producer , podcaster , and musician . He is the chief executive officer of Nerdist Industries , the digital division of Legendary Entertainment . He currently hosts Talking Dead , an hourly aftershow on AMC , affiliated with the network 's zombie drama series The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead as well as `` Talking with Chris Hardwick '' , a show in which Hardwick interviews prominent pop culture figures ; @midnight with Chris Hardwick , a nightly comedy-game show series on Comedy Central , and The Wall , a `` plinko '' inspired gameshow on NBC .   Hardwick originated the role of Stacee Jaxx in Rock of Ages during its premiere run in Los Angeles ( 2005 -- 2006 ) . In 2011 , he began hosting Ministry of Laughs , a BBC America Britcom block , and Talking Dead , a live hour talk show on AMC following episodes of The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead . In 2013 , Hardwick hosted Talking Bad , a live half-hour talk show on AMC following the final eight episodes of Breaking Bad , and in 2016 he started to host Talking Saul for Breaking Bads spin-off , Better Call Saul . He is also known for performing with Mike Phirman in Hard 'n Phirm , hosting Singled Out , Wired Science , Web Soup , and Nerdist Podcast , and as the voice of Otis in Back at the Barnyard , replacing Kevin James .


Casey Ryback Casey Ryback is a fictional character and action hero from the Under Siege films of the 1990s . Played by Hollywood action star Steven Seagal , Ryback is a Chief Petty Officer and former Navy SEAL operator turned chef with top training in martial arts , explosives , special-weapons and tactics . He is a master of unarmed combat , highly skilled with firearms , knives and other forms of combat which enables him to defeat mercenaries/terrorists with ease . He appears in the 1992 film Under Siege and its sequel , Under Siege 2 : Dark Territory , in 1995 .


Appian Way Productions was established by a musician.

Appian Way Productions Appian Way Productions is a film production company in West Hollywood , California , established by actor and producer Leonardo DiCaprio . The company 's first film was The Assassination of Richard Nixon ( 2004 ) . It then released the 2004 biopic The Aviator , starring DiCaprio as Howard Hughes . The film was a critical and commercial success , and earned several Academy Award nominations , including Best Picture . Its following productions were released three years later -- the comedy drama Gardener of Eden ( 2007 ) and the documentary The 11th Hour ( 2007 ) . This was followed by the commercial successes of the psychological horror Orphan ( 2009 ) , the psychological thriller Shutter Island ( 2010 ) and the dark fantasy film Red Riding Hood ( 2011 ) . The company had three releases in 2013 , including the crime thriller Runner Runner and the thriller film Out of the Furnace ( 2013 ) , both of which performed poorly at the box-office . Appian Way released the biopic The Wolf of Wall Street ( 2013 ) , a critical and commercial success , which was nominated for several Academy Awards , including Best Picture .


Asia Asia is Earth 's largest and most populous continent , located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres and sharing the continental landmass of Eurasia with the continent of Europe and shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with both Europe and Africa . Asia covers an area of 44,579,000 km2 , about 30 % of Earth 's total land area and 8.7 % of the Earth 's total surface area . The continent , which has long been home to the majority of the human population , was the site of many of the first civilizations . Asia is notable for not only its overall large size and population , but also dense and large settlements as well as vast barely populated regions within the continent of 4.4 billion people .   In general terms , Asia is bounded on the east by the Pacific Ocean , on the south by the Indian Ocean and on the north by the Arctic Ocean . The western boundary with Europe is a historical and cultural construct , as there is no clear physical and geographical separation between them . The most commonly accepted boundaries place Asia to the east of the Suez Canal , the Ural River , and the Ural Mountains , and south of the Caucasus Mountains and the Caspian and Black Seas .   China and India alternated in being the largest economies in the world from 1 to 1800 CE . China was a major economic power and attracted many to the east , and for many the legendary wealth and prosperity of the ancient culture of India personified Asia , attracting European commerce , exploration and colonialism . The accidental discovery of America by Columbus in search for India demonstrates this deep fascination . The Silk Road became the main East-West trading route in the Asian hitherland while the Straits of Malacca stood as a major sea route . Asia has exhibited economic dynamism ( particularly East Asia ) as well as robust population growth during the 20th century , but overall population growth has since fallen . Asia was the birthplace of most of the world 's mainstream religions including Christianity , Islam , Judaism , Hinduism , Buddhism , Confucianism , Taoism ( or Daoism ) , Jainism , Sikhism , Zoroastranism , as well as many other religions .   Given its size and diversity , the concept of Asia -- a name dating back to classical antiquity -- may actually have more to do with human geography than physical geography . Asia varies greatly across and within its regions with regard to ethnic groups , cultures , environments , economics , historical ties and government systems . It also has a mix of many different climates ranging from the equatorial south via the hot desert in the Middle East , temperate areas in the east and the continental centre to vast subarctic and polar areas in Siberia .


In 2015, FC Barcelona was the winner of their fifth Champions League.

FC Barcelona Futbol Club Barcelona ( -LSB- fubˈbɔɫ ˈkɫub bərsəˈɫonə -RSB- ) , commonly known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça , is a professional football club based in Barcelona , Catalonia , Spain .   Founded in 1899 by a group of Swiss , English and Catalan footballers led by Joan Gamper , the club has become a symbol of Catalan culture and Catalanism , hence the motto `` Més que un club '' ( `` More than a club '' ) . Unlike many other football clubs , the supporters own and operate Barcelona . It is the second most valuable sports team in the world , worth $ 3.56 billion , and the world 's second richest football club in terms of revenue , with an annual turnover of $ 560.8 million . The official Barcelona anthem is the `` Cant del Barça '' , written by Jaume Picas and Josep Maria Espinàs .   Domestically , Barcelona has won 24 La Liga , 29 Copa del Rey , 12 Supercopa de España , 3 Copa Eva Duarte and 2 Copa de la Liga trophies , as well as being the record holder for the latter four competitions . In international club football , Barcelona has won twenty European and World titles -- four UEFA Champions League titles and one European Cup , a record four UEFA Cup Winners ' Cup , a shared record five UEFA Super Cup , a record three Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and a record three FIFA Club World Cup . Barcelona was ranked first in the IFFHS Club World Ranking for 1997 , 2009 , 2011 , 2012 and 2015 and currently occupies the third position on the UEFA club rankings . The club has a long-standing rivalry with Real Madrid ; matches between the two teams are referred to as El Clásico .   Barcelona is one of the most widely supported teams in the world , and the club has the largest social media following in the world among sports teams . Barcelona players have won a record number of Ballon d'Or awards ( 11 ) , with recipients including Johan Cruyff , as well as a record number of FIFA World Player of the Year awards ( 7 ) , with winners including Ronaldo , Romário and Ronaldinho . In 2010 , three players who came through the club 's youth academy ( Lionel Messi , Andrés Iniesta and Xavi ) were chosen as the three best players in the world in the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards , an unprecedented feat for players from the same football school .   Barcelona is one of three founding members of the Primera División that have never been relegated from the top division , along with Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid . In 2009 , Barcelona became the first Spanish club to win the continental treble consisting of La Liga , Copa del Rey , and the UEFA Champions League , and also became the first football club to win six out of six competitions in a single year , completing the sextuple in also winning the Spanish Super Cup , UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup . In 2011 , the club became European champions again and won five trophies . This Barcelona team , which won 14 trophies in just 4 years under Pep Guardiola , is considered by some in the sport to be the greatest team of all time . By winning their fifth Champions League trophy on 6 June 2015 , Barcelona became the first European club in history to achieve the continental treble twice .


Martina Hingis was born in Czechoslovakia, but is Swiss.

Martina Hingis Martina Hingis ( born 30 September 1980 ) is a Czechoslovak-born Swiss professional tennis player who spent a total of 209 weeks as the singles world No. 1 . She has won five Grand Slam singles titles , twelve Grand Slam women 's doubles titles , winning a calendar-year doubles Grand Slam in 1998 , and five Grand Slam mixed doubles titles ; for a combined total of twenty-two major titles . In addition , she has won the season-ending WTA Championships two times in singles and three times in doubles and is an Olympic medalist .   Hingis set a series of `` youngest-ever '' records during the 1990s , including youngest-ever Grand Slam champion and youngest-ever world No. 1 . Before ligament injuries in both ankles forced her to withdraw temporarily from professional tennis in 2002 , at the age of 22 , she had won 40 singles titles and 36 doubles titles and , according to Forbes , had been the highest-paid female athlete in the world for five consecutive years , 1997 to 2001 . After several surgeries and long recuperations , Hingis returned to the WTA tour in 2006 , climbing to world No. 6 and winning three singles titles , and also receiving the Laureus World Sports Award for Comeback of the Year . She retired in November 2007 , following months of injuries and a positive test for a metabolite of cocaine during the 2007 Wimbledon Championships , which led to a two-year suspension from the sport .   In July 2013 , Hingis came out of retirement to play the North American hard-court season , partnering Daniela Hantuchová . After achieving moderate success in 2014 playing with Sabine Lisicki and Flavia Pennetta , she partnered with Sania Mirza in March 2015 ; together they won three consecutive Grand Slam titles . During her comeback , Hingis also won all four Grand Slam mixed doubles tournaments alongside Leander Paes and a silver medal partnering Timea Bacsinszky at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro .   Widely considered an all-time tennis great , Hingis was ranked by Tennis magazine in 2005 as the 8th-greatest female player of the preceding 40 years . She was named one of the `` 30 Legends of Women 's Tennis : Past , Present and Future '' by TIME in June 2011 . In 2013 , Hingis was elected into the International Tennis Hall of Fame , and was appointed two years later the organization 's first ever Global Ambassador .


Narendra Modi is a Gujarati Indian politician.

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


A variety of institutions make up the University of Oxford.

University of Oxford The University of Oxford ( informally Oxford University or simply Oxford ) is a collegiate research university located in Oxford , England . It has no known date of foundation , but there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096 , making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the world 's second-oldest university in continuous operation . It is one of the world 's most prestigious universities . It grew rapidly from 1167 when Henry II banned English students from attending the University of Paris . After disputes between students and Oxford townsfolk in 1209 , some academics fled north-east to Cambridge where they established what became the University of Cambridge . The two `` ancient universities '' are frequently jointly referred to as `` Oxbridge '' .   The university is made up of a variety of institutions , including 38 constituent colleges and a full range of academic departments which are organised into four divisions . All the colleges are self-governing institutions within the university , each controlling its own membership and with its own internal structure and activities . Being a city university , it does not have a main campus ; instead , its buildings and facilities are scattered throughout the city centre . Most undergraduate teaching at Oxford is organised around weekly tutorials at the colleges and halls , supported by classes , lectures and laboratory work provided by university faculties and departments .   Oxford is the home of the Rhodes Scholarship , one of the world 's oldest and most prestigious scholarships , which has brought graduate students to study at the university for more than a century . The university operates the world 's oldest university museum , as well as the largest university press in the world and the largest academic library system in Britain . Oxford has educated many notable alumni , including 28 Nobel laureates , 27 Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom , and many heads of state and government around the world .


Emily Ratajkowski appeared on television or radio.

Emily Ratajkowski Emily O'Hara Ratajkowski ( -LSB- ˌrɑːtaɪˈkɒfski -RSB- born June 7 , 1991 ) is an American actress and model . Born to American parents in London and raised primarily in California , she rose to prominence in 2013 after appearing in the music video for Robin Thicke 's `` Blurred Lines '' , which became the number one song of the year in several countries and attracted controversy over its purportedly sexist content .   Ratajkowski 's modeling career has progressed from retail ad work to art house erotica and high fashion . She appeared on the cover of the March 2012 issue of the erotic magazine treats ! , which led to her being asked to appear in two music videos -- `` Blurred Lines '' and Maroon 5 's `` Love Somebody '' . She appeared in the 2014 and 2015 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issues . Ratajkowski made her professional runway modeling debut for Marc Jacobs at New York Fashion Week in 2015 and has since walked on the Paris Fashion Week runway for Miu Miu . She appeared in a Buick Super Bowl commercial during Super Bowl 50 .   Ratajkowski began acting as a child in the San Diego area before she gained a recurring role on iCarly and later roles in major films . Her feature film debut was as the mistress of Ben Affleck 's character in the 2014 film Gone Girl . Ratajkowski 's 2015 roles included the films Entourage and We Are Your Friends ( her first leading role ) as well as the miniseries The Spoils Before Dying .   Ratajkowski is an advocate for women 's health issues as a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood and supports the right of women to express their sexuality . Her claim to being a feminist has been both supported and disputed .


Super Bowl commercials The U.S. television broadcast of the Super Bowl -- the championship game of the National Football League ( NFL ) -- features many high-profile television commercials , colloquially known as Super Bowl ads . The phenomenon is a result of the game 's extremely high viewership and wide demographics : Super Bowl games have frequently been among the United States ' most watched television broadcasts , with Nielsen having estimated that Super Bowl XLIX in 2015 was seen by at least 114.4 million viewers in the United States , surpassing the previous year 's Super Bowl as the highest-rated television broadcast in U.S. history . As such , advertisers have typically used commercials during the Super Bowl as a means of building awareness for their products and services among this wide audience , while also trying to generate buzz around the ads themselves so they may receive additional exposure , such as becoming a viral video .   Super Bowl commercials have become a cultural phenomenon of their own alongside the game itself ; many viewers only watch the game to see the commercials , national surveys ( such as the USA Today Super Bowl Ad Meter ) judge which advertisement carried the best viewer response , and CBS has aired yearly specials since 2000 chronicling notable commercials from the game . Super Bowl advertisements have become iconic and well-known because of their cinematographic quality , unpredictability , surreal humor , and use of special effects . The use of celebrity cameos has also been common in Super Bowl ads . A number of major brands , including Budweiser , Coca-Cola , Doritos , GoDaddy and Master Lock , have been well known for making repeated appearances during the Super Bowl .   The prominence of airing a commercial during the Super Bowl has also carried an increasingly high price : the average cost of a 30-second commercial during the Super Bowl has ranged from $ 37,500 at Super Bowl I , to around $ 2.2 million at Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000 , and by Super Bowl XLIX in 2015 , had doubled to around $ 4.5 million . The cost of advertising during the Super Bowl has reached a point that some companies may not be able to recoup their costs from the resulting revenue . Some commercials airing during , or proposed to air during the game , have also attracted controversy due to the nature of their content .   Super Bowl commercials are largely limited to the United States ' broadcast of the game . Complaints about the inability to view the ads are prevalent in Canada , where federal `` simsub '' regulations require pay television providers to replace U.S. feeds of programs with domestic feeds if they are being broadcast at the same time as a Canadian television station . In 2016 , Canada 's telecom regulator enacted a policy to forbid the use of simsub during the Super Bowl , citing viewer complaints and a belief that these ads were an `` integral part '' of the game . These actions have been challenged by the NFL and the Super Bowl 's current Canadian rightsholder , Bell Media , for devaluing the company 's exclusive Canadian broadcast rights to the game , and violating Canada 's Broadcasting Act by singling out a specific program .


Ratatouille was a 2007 film that won at least one Oscar.

Ratatouille (film) Ratatouille ( -LSB- rætəˈtuːiː -RSB- -LSB- ʁatatuj -RSB- ) is a 2007 American computer-animated comedy film produced by Pixar and released by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution . It is the eighth film produced by Pixar and was co-written and directed by Brad Bird , who took over from Jan Pinkava in 2005 . The title refers to a French dish , `` ratatouille '' , which is served at the end of the film and is also a play on words about the species of the main character . The film stars the voices of Patton Oswalt as Remy , an anthropomorphic rat who is interested in cooking ; Lou Romano as Linguini , a young garbage boy who befriends Remy ; Ian Holm as Skinner , the head chef of Auguste Gusteau 's restaurant ; Janeane Garofalo as Colette , a rôtisseur at Gusteau 's restaurant ; Peter O'Toole as Anton Ego , a restaurant critic ; Brian Dennehy as Django , Remy 's father and leader of his clan ; Peter Sohn as Emile , Remy 's older brother ; and Brad Garrett as Auguste Gusteau , a recently deceased chef . The plot follows Remy , who dreams of becoming a chef and tries to achieve his goal by forming an alliance with a Parisian restaurant 's garbage boy .   Development of Ratatouille began in 2000 when Pinkava wrote the original concepts of the film . In 2005 , Bird was approached to direct the film and revise the story . Bird and some of the film 's crew members also visited Paris for inspiration . To create the food animation used in the film , the crew consulted chefs from both France and the United States . Bird also interned at Thomas Keller 's The French Laundry restaurant , where Keller developed the confit byaldi , a dish used in the film .   Ratatouille premiered on June 22 , 2007 , at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles , California , with its general release June 29 , 2007 , in the United States . The film grossed at the box office and received universal acclaim . The film later won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature , among other honors .


Dogstar (band) Dogstar was an alternative rock group active from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s . The band performed at the 1996 Zwemdokrock Festival ( Lummen , Belgium ) and at the 1999 Glastonbury Festival ( United Kingdom ) , and it released an EP and two albums . The band garnered media attention due to the non-musical activities of bassist Keanu Reeves , who starred in major Hollywood action films such as Point Break , Speed and '' The Matrix .


In the Heart of the Sea is a film based on the nonfiction book of the same name.

In the Heart of the Sea (film) In the Heart of the Sea is a 2015 adventure-drama film based on Nathaniel Philbrick 's non-fiction book of the same name , about the sinking of the American whaling ship Essex in 1820 , an event that inspired the novel Moby-Dick . An international co-production between the United States and Spain , it was directed and produced by Ron Howard and written by Charles Leavitt . The film stars Chris Hemsworth , Benjamin Walker , Cillian Murphy , Tom Holland , Ben Whishaw and Brendan Gleeson .   It premiered in New York City on December 7 , 2015 and was released in cinemas in the United States on December 11 , 2015 by Warner Bros. . Pictures . In the Heart of the Sea received mixed reviews from critics , and grossed $ 93 million against a $ 100 million budget , making it a box office bomb .


Stephanie Daley earned Tamblyn a nomination for best supporting female at the 2006 Independent Spirit Awards, held in Pasadena, California.

Stephanie Daley Stephanie Daley -- retitled What She Knew for US television -- is a 2006 film starring Amber Tamblyn , Melissa Leo , Tilda Swinton and Timothy Hutton . The film , which received a limited release in North America on April 20 , 2007 , focuses on the issue of teenage pregnancy . Stephanie Daley was developed at the Sundance Writers ' and Filmmakers ' Lab , and premiered at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival , where it won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award . The film also earned Tamblyn a nomination for best supporting female at the 2006 Independent Spirit Awards and the Leopard prize for best actress at the 2006 Locarno film festival .


Independent Spirit Awards The Film Independent Spirit Awards ( abbreviated `` Spirit Awards '' and originally known as the FINDIE or Friends of Independents Awards ) , founded in 1984 , are awards dedicated to independent filmmakers . Winners were typically presented with acrylic glass pyramids containing suspended shoestrings representing the paltry budgets of independent films . In 1986 , the event was renamed the Independent Spirit Awards . Since 2006 , winners have received a trophy depicting a bird with its wings spread sitting atop of a pole with the shoestrings from the previous design wrapped around the pole .   Now called the Film Independent Spirit Awards , the show is produced by Film Independent , the non-profit arts organization whose mission is to champion creative independence in visual storytelling and support a community of artists who embody diversity , innovation and uniqueness of vision . Film Independent Members vote to determine the winners of the Spirit Awards .   The awards show is held inside a tent on the beach in Santa Monica , California , usually on the day before the Academy Awards ( since 1999 ; originally the Saturday before ) . The show is broadcast live on the IFC network , as well as Hollywood Suite in Canada and A&E Latin America .   The 32nd Independent Spirit Awards ceremony , hosted by Nick Kroll and John Mulaney , was broadcast live on IFC on Saturday , February 25 at 2p/5e with an on-demand version available on Sundance Now .


Tardigrades can be found all over the world.

Tardigrade Tardigrades ( -LSB- ˈtɑrdᵻˌgreɪd -RSB- also known as water bears , space bears , or moss piglets ) are water-dwelling , eight-legged , segmented micro-animals . They were first discovered by the German zoologist Johann August Ephraim Goeze in 1773 . The name Tardigrada ( meaning `` slow stepper '' ) was given three years later by the Italian biologist Lazzaro Spallanzani . They have been found everywhere from mountaintops to the deep sea , mud volcanoes , and from tropical rain forests to the Antarctic .   Tardigrades are one of the most resilient animals known : they can survive extreme conditions that would be rapidly fatal to nearly all other known life forms . They can withstand temperature ranges from 1 K ( close to absolute zero ) to about 420 K for several minutes , pressures about six times greater than those found in the deepest ocean trenches , ionizing radiation at doses hundreds of times higher than the lethal dose for a human , and the vacuum of outer space . They can go without food or water for more than 30 years , drying out to the point where they are 3 % or less water , only to rehydrate , forage , and reproduce . Tardigrades living in harsh conditions undergo an annual process of cyclomorphosis .   They are not considered extremophilic because they are not adapted to exploit these conditions . This means that their chances of dying increase the longer they are exposed to the extreme environments , whereas true extremophiles thrive in a physically or geochemically extreme environment that would harm most other organisms .   Usually , tardigrades are about 0.5 mm long when they are fully grown . They are short and plump with four pairs of legs , each with four to eight claws also known as `` disks '' . The first three pairs of legs are directed ventrolaterally and are the primary means of locomotion , while the fourth pair is directed posteriorly on the terminal segment of the trunk and is used primarily for grasping the substrate . Tardigrades are prevalent in mosses and lichens and feed on plant cells , algae , and small invertebrates . When collected , they may be viewed under a very low-power microscope , making them accessible to students and amateur scientists .   Tardigrades form the phylum Tardigrada , part of the superphylum Ecdysozoa . It is an ancient group , with fossils dating from 530 million years ago , in the Cambrian period . About 1,150 species of tardigrades have been described . Tardigrades can be found throughout the world , from the Himalayas ( above 6000 m ) , to the deep sea ( below 4000 m ) and from the polar regions to the equator .


Paris Hilton recorded "Stars Are Blind."

Paris Hilton Paris Whitney Hilton ( born February 17 , 1981 ) is an American businesswoman , socialite , television and media personality , model , actress , singer , and DJ . She is the great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton , the founder of Hilton Hotels . Born in New York City and raised there and in Beverly Hills , California , Hilton began her modeling career as a teenager when she signed with New York based modelling development agency , Trump Model Management . Her lifestyle and rumored short-lived relationships made her a feature of entertainment news and tabloid magazines , and Hilton was proclaimed `` New York 's leading It girl '' in 2001 . In 2003 , a sex tape with Hilton and her then-boyfriend Rick Salomon , later released as 1 Night in Paris , was leaked to the public . Released only three weeks before the premiere of the reality television series The Simple Life , in which she starred alongside her long-time friend Nicole Richie , the sex tape became a media sensation .   In 2004 , Hilton released her book Confessions of an Heiress , which became a New York Times Best Seller . She later played a supporting role in the horror film House of Wax ( 2005 ) , in 2005 Hilton later signed to Warner Brothers records as a singer and began working with producers such as Scott Storch , Tom Whalley , J.R. Rotem , Dr. Luke , Fernando Garibay and Kara DioGuardi on a pop album .   Hilton 's debut single `` Stars Are Blind '' was released worldwide in June 2006 and quickly became an instant hit around the world including number one in Scotland . In the United States , `` Stars Are Blind '' was amongst the highest debuting singles in the U.S. in 2006 , entering the Billboard Hot 100 at number 18 due to strong digital sales and was played on more than 125 pop stations in the U.S. alone in 2006-2007 . The self-titled album , Paris , was released worldwide on August 22 , 2006 . The album reached number six on the Billboard 200 , and has since sold over 600,000 copies worldwide .   Hilton returned to reality television in 2008 with Paris Hilton 's My New BFF ( 2008 ) and its two spin-offs : Paris Hilton 's British Best Friend ( 2009 ) and Paris Hilton 's Dubai BFF ( 2009 ) , and again in 2011 with Oxygen series The World According to Paris . Her other acting credits include Bottoms Up , National Lampoon 's Pledge This ! ( 2006 ) , The Hottie and the Nottie ( 2008 ) , Repo ! The Genetic Opera ( 2008 ) and Sofia Coppola 's film The Bling Ring ( 2013 ) . In 2012 , Hilton announced her DJ career and made her debut at the São Paulo Pop Music Festival . Although her performance was criticized , she became one of the highest-paid celebrity DJs , holding club residencies all over the world . That same year , she also returned to music , signing a record deal with Lil Wayne 's and Birdman 's label Cash Money Records .   Critics and admirers have said that Hilton is famous for being famous , exemplifying the celebutante : a celebrity not through talent or work , but through inherited wealth and lifestyle .   She has parlayed her media fame into perfumes and a fashion line with her endorsement ; her fragrances have earned $ 1.5 billion . There are currently three Paris Hilton apartment complexes and 44 Paris Hilton stores worldwide , with products including perfumes , handbags , watches and footwear . Hilton earns over $ 10 million a year from product sales . Hilton 's perfume products alone have brought in over $ 2.5 billion in revenue , the second largest celebrity fragrance of all time behind Hollywood actress Liz Taylor . and , as of 2005 , was paid about $ 300,000 for appearances in clubs and events .


Thriller film Thriller film , also known as suspense film or suspense thriller , is a film genre that falls under the general thriller genre . The thriller film 's key characteristics are excitement and suspense . The suspense element , found in most films ' plots , is particularly exploited by the filmmaker in this genre . Tension is created by delaying what the audience sees as inevitable .


Action film Action film is a film genre in which the protagonist or protagonists end up in a series of challenges that typically include violence , extended fighting , physical feats , and frantic chases . Action films tend to feature a resourceful hero struggling against incredible odds , which include life-threatening situations , a villain , or a pursuit which generally concludes in victory for the hero .   Advancements in CGI have made it cheaper and easier to create action sequences and other visual effects that required the efforts of professional stunt crews in the past . However , reactions to action films containing significant amounts of CGI have been mixed as films that use computer animations to create unrealistic , highly unbelievable events are often met with criticism . While action has long been a recurring component in films , the `` action film '' genre began to develop in the 1970s along with the increase of stunts and special effects .   The genre is closely associated with the thriller and adventure film genres , and it may also contain elements of spy fiction and espionage .


Jack Reacher (film) th : Jack Reacher ยอดคนสืบระห่ำ   Jack Reacher ( formerly called One Shot , or alternatively known as Jack Reacher : One Shot ) is a 2012 American action thriller film written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie , based on Lee Child 's 2005 novel One Shot . The film stars Tom Cruise as the title character , with Rosamund Pike , David Oyelowo , Richard Jenkins , Jai Courtney , Werner Herzog and Robert Duvall also starring . The film entered production in October 2011 , and concluded in January 2012 . It was filmed entirely on location in Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania . It received generally positive reviews and performed well at the box office .   The film was released in North America on December 21 . The musical score was composed by Joe Kraemer , performed by the Hollywood Studio Symphony and recorded at the Sony Scoring Stage in Culver City , California . Cruise performed all of his own driving stunts during the film 's signature car chase sequence . Cruise reprised his role in the sequel , Jack Reacher : Never Go Back , based on the 2013 novel Never Go Back , which was released in October 2016 .


Kangana Ranaut refuses to go to Bollywood.

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


Sweet November (2001 film) Sweet November is a 2001 romantic drama film based in San Francisco starring Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron , reuniting the actors after their previous appearance as husband and wife in The Devil 's Advocate . The film is based on a film classic made in 1968 and written by Herman Raucher , and starring Anthony Newley and Sandy Dennis .


Bad Santa Bad Santa is a 2003 American Christmas black comedy crime film directed by Terry Zwigoff , and starring Billy Bob Thornton , Tony Cox , Lauren Graham , Brett Kelly , Lauren Tom , John Ritter , and Bernie Mac . It was John Ritter 's last film appearance before his death on September 11 , 2003 . The Coen brothers are credited as executive producers . The film was released in the United States on November 26 , 2003 , and was screened out of competition at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival . An unrated version was released on DVD on March 5 , 2004 and on Blu-ray Disc on November 20 , 2007 as Bad ( der ) Santa . A director 's cut DVD was released in November 2006 ; it features Zwigoff 's cut of the film ( including an audio commentary with him and the film 's editor ) , which is three minutes shorter than the theatrical cut and ten minutes shorter than the unrated version . A sequel , Bad Santa 2 , was released on November 23 , 2016 .


The Pacifier The Pacifier is a 2005 American family comedy film directed by Adam Shankman and written by Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant . It stars Vin Diesel . The film was released in March 2005 by Walt Disney Pictures and earned US$ 17 million in its opening weekend . It has a 20 % approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes , which called it `` only moderately amusing '' in its consensus .


Evan Almighty Evan Almighty is a 2007 American fantasy comedy film and the stand-alone sequel/spin-off to Bruce Almighty ( 2003 ) . The film was directed by Tom Shadyac , written by Steve Oedekerk , based on the characters created by Steve Koren and Mark O'Keefe from the original film , and starring Steve Carell , Morgan Freeman , Lauren Graham and John Goodman .   Production of the film began in January 2006 . Several visual effect companies were used to provide CGI for the numerous animals and the climactic flood scene . The main plot is a modern-day retelling of Noah 's Ark. . By the time the film had completed production , it had become the most expensive comedy film ever at the time ; it was later overtaken by Men in Black 3 . In October 2007 , the film was released on DVD and HD DVD .   The film grossed less than its budget of $ 175 million worldwide , and received generally negative reviews . Evan Almighty was also notable for allegations that the many animals used in the film were treated poorly , but Universal Pictures stressed the animals ' conditions were acceptable .


Because I Said So (film) Because I Said So is a 2007 romantic comedy film directed by Michael Lehmann and starring Diane Keaton , Mandy Moore , Lauren Graham , Piper Perabo , Gabriel Macht and Stephen Collins . It was released on February 2 , 2007 . The film received negative reviews from critics .


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