Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John , ( born Reginald Kenneth Dwight ; 25 March 1947 ) is an English singer , pianist , and composer . He has worked with lyricist Bernie Taupin as his songwriting partner since 1967 ; they have collaborated on more than 30 albums to date . In his five-decade career Elton John has sold more than 300million records , making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world . He has more than fifty Top 40 hits , including seven consecutive No. 1 US albums , 58 Billboard Top 40 singles , 27 Top 10 , four No. 2 and nine No. 1 . For 31 consecutive years ( 1970 -- 2000 ) he had at least one song in the Billboard Hot 100 . His tribute single , re-penned in dedication to the late Princess Diana , `` Candle in the Wind 1997 '' sold over 33million copies worldwide and is the best-selling single in the history of the UK and US singles charts . He has also composed music , produced records , and has occasionally acted in films . John owned Watford Football Club from 1976 to 1987 , and 1997 to 2002 . He is an honorary Life President of the club , and in 2014 had a stand named after him at the club 's home stadium .   Raised in the Pinner area of London , John learned to play piano at an early age , and by 1962 had formed Bluesology . John met his songwriting partner , Bernie Taupin , in 1967 , after they had both answered an advert for songwriters . For two years they wrote songs for other artists , including Lulu , and John also worked as a session musician for artists such as the Hollies and the Scaffold . In 1969 his debut album , Empty Sky , was released . In 1970 a single , `` Your Song '' , from his second album , Elton John , reached the top ten in the UK and the US , his first hit single . After decades of commercial chart success , John has also achieved success in musical theatre , both in the West End and on Broadway , composing the music for The Lion King ( film and musical ) , Aida and Billy Elliot the Musical .   He has received five Grammy Awards , five Brit Awards -- winning two awards for Outstanding Contribution to Music and the first Brits Icon in 2013 for his `` lasting impact on British culture '' , an Academy Award , a Golden Globe Award , a Tony Award , a Disney Legends award , and the Kennedy Center Honors in 2004 . In 2004 , Rolling Stone ranked him Number 49 on its list of 100 influential musicians of the rock and roll era . In 2013 , Billboard ranked him the most successful male solo artist on the Billboard Hot 100 Top All-Time Artists ( third overall behind the Beatles and Madonna ) . He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 , is an inductee into the Songwriters Hall of Fame , and is a fellow of the British Academy of Songwriters , Composers and Authors . Having been named a Order of the British Empire in 1996 , John was made a Knight Bachelor by Elizabeth II for `` services to music and charitable services '' in 1998 . John has performed at a number of royal events , such as the funeral of Princess Diana at Westminster Abbey in 1997 , the Party at the Palace in 2002 and the Queen 's Diamond Jubilee Concert outside Buckingham Palace in 2012 .   He has been heavily involved in the fight against AIDS since the late 1980s . In 1992 , he established the Elton John AIDS Foundation and a year later began hosting the annual Academy Award Party , which has since become one of the highest-profile Oscar parties in the Hollywood film industry . Since its inception , the foundation has raised over . John , who announced he was bisexual in 1976 and has been openly gay since 1988 , entered into a civil partnership with David Furnish on 21 December 2005 , and after same-sex marriage became legal in England and Wales in 2014 , wed Furnish on 21 December 2014 . He continues to be a champion for LGBT social movements worldwide .


James A. Woods James Andre Woods ( born 30 October 1979 ) is a Canadian actor , who has appeared in films , television and video games .   Woods trained at New York City 's Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute before returning to his native Montreal to pursue an acting career . Woods starred in Hatley High , distributed in Canada by Seville Films and winner of Best Director and Best Screenplay awards at The Comedy Festival . Additional film credits include the TVA Films theatrical release Eternal and the Ed Solomon directed Levity . He also starred in The Watch ( 2008 ) .   Woods ' television credits include Seriously Weird ( YTV/ITV ) , Big Wolf on Campus ( Fox Family ) , Undressed ( MTV ) , Fries with That ? ( Télé-Action ) , Naked Josh ( Showcase/Oxygen ) and Galidor ( Fox Kids ) .


Steve Buscemi was a cast member in a Coen brothers' film.

Steve Buscemi Steven Vincent Buscemi ( -LSB- buːˈsɛmi -RSB- born December 13 , 1957 ) is an American actor and film director . Buscemi has starred and supported in successful Hollywood and indie films , including Parting Glances , New York Stories , Mystery Train , Reservoir Dogs , Desperado , Con Air , Armageddon , The Grey Zone , Ghost World , Big Fish , and The Sopranos . He is also known for his appearances in many films by the Coen brothers : Miller 's Crossing , Barton Fink , The Hudsucker Proxy , Fargo , and The Big Lebowski . Buscemi provides the voice of Randall Boggs in the Monsters , Inc. franchise .   From 2010 to 2014 , he portrayed Enoch `` Nucky '' Thompson in the critically acclaimed series Boardwalk Empire , which earned him two Screen Actors Guild Awards , a Golden Globe , and two nominations for an Emmy Award . He made his directorial debut in 1996 , with Trees Lounge , in which he also starred . Other works include Animal Factory ( 2000 ) , Lonesome Jim ( 2005 ) and Interview ( 2007 ) . He has also directed numerous episodes of TV shows , including Homicide : Life on the Street , The Sopranos , Oz , 30 Rock , and Nurse Jackie . He currently hosts the Emmy Award-winning AOL On comedy talk-show Park Bench .


Minnesota Minnesota ( -LSB- -LSB- ˌmɪnəˈso̞ɾɐ -RSB- help = no -RSB- ) is a state in the midwestern and northern regions of the United States . Minnesota was admitted as the 32nd U.S. state on May 11 , 1858 , created from the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory . The state has a large number of lakes , and is known by the slogan `` Land of 10,000 Lakes '' . Its official motto is L'Étoile du Nord ( French : Star of the North ) .   Minnesota is the 12th largest in area and the 21st most populous of the U.S. states ; nearly 60 percent of its residents live in the Minneapolis -- Saint Paul metropolitan area ( known as the `` Twin Cities '' ) , the center of transportation , business , industry , education , and government and home to an internationally known arts community . The remainder of the state consists of western prairies now given over to intensive agriculture ; deciduous forests in the southeast , now partially cleared , farmed and settled ; and the less populated North Woods , used for mining , forestry , and recreation .   Minnesota is known for its progressive political orientation and its high rate of civic participation and voter turnout . Until European settlement , Minnesota was inhabited by the Dakota and Ojibwe/Anishinaabe . During the 19th and early 20th centuries , a large number of European settlers entered the state who had mainly emigrated from Scandinavia and Germany . The state remains today a center of Scandinavian American and German American culture . In recent decades , immigration from Asia , the Horn of Africa , and Latin America has broadened its historic demographic and cultural composition . Minnesota 's standard of living index is among the highest in the United States , and the state is also among the best-educated and wealthiest in the nation .


Ellen DeGeneres is a person who works in comedy.

Ellen (TV series) Ellen is an American television sitcom that aired on the ABC network from March 29 , 1994 , to July 22 , 1998 , consisting of 109 episodes . The title role is Ellen Morgan , played by stand-up comedian Ellen DeGeneres , a neurotic bookstore owner in her thirties . The title of the series was These Friends of Mine for the first season , but it was subsequently changed to avoid confusion with the NBC series Friends , which premiered in September 1994 .   The series centered on Ellen 's dealing with her quirky friends , her family , and the problems of daily life . The series is notable for being one of the first with a main character to come out as gay , which DeGeneres ' character did in the 1997 episode `` The Puppy Episode '' , which aired shortly after DeGeneres publicly revealed that she was gay in real life . This event received a great deal of media exposure , ignited controversy , and prompted ABC to place a parental advisory at the beginning of each episode .   The series ' theme song ( used in season 3 onwards ) , `` So Called Friend '' , is by Scottish band Texas . A running gag during the third and fourth seasons was that each episode had a distinct/different opening credits sequence ( often with singing and dancing ) , resulting from Ellen 's ongoing search for the perfect opening credits .


EDtv EDtv is a 1999 American satirical comedy film directed by Ron Howard . An adaptation of the Quebec film Louis 19 , King of the Airwaves ( Louis 19 , le roi des ondes ) ( 1994 ) , it stars Matthew McConaughey , Jenna Elfman , Woody Harrelson , Ellen DeGeneres , Martin Landau , Rob Reiner , Sally Kirkland , Elizabeth Hurley , Clint Howard , and Dennis Hopper .   The movie received mixed reviews and was a box office flop ( grossing only a little over $ 35 million compared to its $ 80 million budget ) .   The film was screened out of competition at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival .


The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Ellen DeGeneres Show ( often shortened to Ellen ) is an American television comedy talk show hosted by comedienne/actress Ellen DeGeneres . Debuting on September 8 , 2003 , it is produced by Telepictures and airs in syndication , including stations owned by NBCUniversal , in the United States and Canada . It is also aired on ITV2 in the United Kingdom . For its first five seasons , the show was taped in Studio 11 at NBC Studios in Burbank , California . It later moved to Stage 1 on the nearby Warner Bros. lot . Since the beginning of the sixth season , Ellen has been broadcast in high definition . The show has won 36 Daytime Emmy Awards as of 2013 . On January 20 , 2016 , it was announced that the show had been renewed for three additional seasons through 2020 . As of May 2017 , the talk show 's YouTube channel was charted as the fifteenth-most-subscribed YouTube channel .


Ellen DeGeneres Ellen Lee DeGeneres ( -LSB- dᵻˈdʒɛnərᵻs -RSB- born January 26 , 1958 ) is an American comedian , television host , actress , writer , and producer . DeGeneres starred in the popular sitcom Ellen from 1994 to 1998 and has hosted her syndicated TV talk show , The Ellen DeGeneres Show , since 2003 .   Her stand-up career started in the early 1980s , and included a 1986 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson . As a film actress , DeGeneres starred in Mr. Wrong ( 1996 ) , appeared in EDtv ( 1999 ) , and The Love Letter ( 1999 ) , and provided the voice of Dory in the Pixar animated films Finding Nemo ( 2003 ) and Finding Dory ( 2016 ) ; for Nemo , she was awarded the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress , the first time an actress won a Saturn Award for a voice performance . In 2010 , she was a judge on American Idol for its ninth season .   She starred in two television sitcoms , Ellen from 1994 to 1998 , and The Ellen Show from 2001 to 2002 . During the fourth season of Ellen in 1997 , she came out as a lesbian in an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show . Her character , Ellen Morgan , also came out to a therapist played by Winfrey , and the series went on to explore various LGBT issues , including the coming-out process . This made her the first openly lesbian actress to play an openly lesbian character on television . In 2008 , she married her longtime girlfriend Portia de Rossi .   DeGeneres has hosted the Academy Awards , Grammy Awards , and the Primetime Emmys . She has authored three books and started her own record company , Eleveneleven . She has won 29 Emmys , 20 People 's Choice Awards ( more than any other person ) , and numerous other awards for her work and charitable efforts . In 2016 , she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom .


Sue Bird was a favorite in the 2002 WNBA Draft.

Sue Bird Suzanne Brigit `` Sue '' Bird ( born October 16 , 1980 ) is an American professional basketball player for the Seattle Storm of the Women 's National Basketball Association ( WNBA ) . Bird was the first overall pick of the 2002 WNBA Draft . She also played for multiple basketball teams outside of the United States .   In high school , she was the New York State Player of the Year , the New York Daily News Player of the Year , and a WBCA All-American . In her senior year at undefeated UConn in 2002 , she won the Wade Trophy and the Naismith Award as College Player of the Year . She finished her UConn career ranked first in three-point field goal percentage and free throw percentage , second in assists and steals , and as a three-time winner of the Nancy Lieberman Award as the top point guard in the nation , while leading her team to a record of 114 -- 4 .   Bird has won two WNBA championships ( 2004 , 2010 ) , four Olympic gold medals , ( 2004 , 2008 , 2012 , 2016 ) , and led the WNBA in assists three times ( 2005 , 2009 , 2016 ) . She has also been selected to nine WNBA All-Star teams and seven All-WNBA teams . Bird is one of nine women to win an Olympic Gold Medal , an NCAA Championship , and a WNBA Championship . In 2011 , she was voted by fans as one of the WNBA 's Top 15 Players of All Time and was voted into the WNBA Top 20@20 as one of the league 's Top 20 Players of All Time .


Ballet Shoes had the producer Granada Productions.

Ballet Shoes (film) Ballet Shoes is a 2007 British television film , adapted by Heidi Thomas from Noel Streatfeild 's 1936 novel Ballet Shoes . It was produced by Granada Productions ( formerly Granada Television ) and premiered on BBC One on 26 December 2007 . It is directed by Sandra Goldbacher .   A previous adaptation of Ballet Shoes was produced in serial  format by the BBC in 1975 and directed by Timothy Combe . `` Ballet Shoes '' co-stars former Harry Potter stars Emma Watson as Pauline Fossil , Gemma Jones as Dr. Jakes , and the late Richard Griffiths as Gum .


The September 11 attacks caused at least $10 billion in infrastructure damage and it was a deadly attack.

September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks ( also referred to as 9/11 ) The expression `` 9/11 '' is pronounced `` nine eleven '' . The slash is not part of the pronunciation . The name is frequently used in British English as well as in American English , even though the dating conventions differ . were a series of four coordinated terrorist attacks by the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda on the United States on the morning of Tuesday , September 11 , 2001 . The attacks killed 2,996 people , injured over 6,000 others , and caused at least $ 10 billion in property and infrastructure damage .   Four passenger airliners operated by two major U.S. passenger air carriers ( United Airlines and American Airlines ) -- all of which departed from airports in the northeastern United States bound for California -- were hijacked by 19 al-Qaeda terrorists . Two of the planes , American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 , were crashed into the North and South towers , respectively , of the World Trade Center complex in New York City . Within an hour and 42 minutes , both 110-story towers collapsed , with debris and the resulting fires causing partial or complete collapse of all other buildings in the World Trade Center complex , including the 47-story 7 World Trade Center tower , as well as significant damage to ten other large surrounding structures . A third plane , American Airlines Flight 77 , was crashed into the Pentagon ( the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense ) in Arlington County , Virginia , leading to a partial collapse of the building 's western side . The fourth plane , United Airlines Flight 93 , initially was steered toward Washington , D.C. , but crashed into a field in Stonycreek Township near Shanksville , Pennsylvania , after its passengers tried to overcome the hijackers . It was the deadliest incident for firefighters and law enforcement officers in the history of the United States , with 343 and 72 killed respectively .   Suspicion for the attack quickly fell on al-Qaeda . The United States responded to the attacks by launching the War on Terror and invading Afghanistan to depose the Taliban , which had harbored al-Qaeda . Many countries strengthened their anti-terrorism legislation and expanded the powers of law enforcement and intelligence agencies to prevent terrorist attacks . Although al-Qaeda 's leader , Osama bin Laden , initially denied any involvement , in 2004 he claimed responsibility for the attacks . Al-Qaeda and bin Laden cited U.S. support of Israel , the presence of U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia , and sanctions against Iraq as motives . Having evaded capture for almost a decade , bin Laden was located and killed by SEAL Team Six of the U.S. Navy in May 2011 .   The destruction of the World Trade Center and nearby infrastructure caused serious damage to the economy of Lower Manhattan and had a significant effect on global markets , closing Wall Street until September 17 and the civilian airspace in the U.S. and Canada until September 13 . Many closings , evacuations , and cancellations followed , out of respect or fear of further attacks . Cleanup of the World Trade Center site was completed in May 2002 , and the Pentagon was repaired within a year . On November 18 , 2006 , construction of One World Trade Center began at the World Trade Center site . The building was officially opened on November 3 , 2014 . Numerous memorials have been constructed , including the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City , the Pentagon Memorial in Arlington County , Virginia , and the Flight 93 National Memorial in a field in Stonycreek Township near Shanksville , Pennsylvania .


How I Met Your Mother's directors include Kevin Smith.

How I Met Your Mother How I Met Your Mother ( often abbreviated to HIMYM ) is an American sitcom that originally aired on CBS from September 19 , 2005 to March 31 , 2014 . The series follows the main character , Ted Mosby , and his group of friends in Manhattan . As a framing device , Ted , in the year 2030 , recounts to his son and daughter the events that led him to meeting their mother .   The series was created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays , who also served as the show 's executive producers and were frequent writers . The series was loosely inspired by their friendship when they both lived in New York City . Among the 208 episodes , there were only four directors : Pamela Fryman ( 196 episodes ) , Rob Greenberg ( 7 episodes ) , Michael Shea ( 4 episodes ) , and Neil Patrick Harris ( 1 episode ) .   Known for its unique structure and eccentric humor , How I Met Your Mother has gained a cult following over the years . The show initially received positive reviews , while the later seasons received more mixed reviews . The show was nominated for 28 Emmy Awards , winning nine . In 2010 , Alyson Hannigan won the People 's Choice Award for Favorite TV Comedy Actress . In 2012 , seven years after its premiere , the series won the People 's Choice Award for Favorite Network TV Comedy , and Neil Patrick Harris won the award for Favorite TV Comedy Actor .   The ninth and final season began airing on September 23 , 2013 , and concluded on March 31 , 2014 , with a double-length finale episode , which received polarized reviews from critics and fans alike for its controversial twist ending , as many critics and fans believed it contradicted many of the previous episodes .   How I Met Your Mother is often compared to Friends , for its setting and characters . Both shows take place in New York and both casts have similar character archetypes .


Patrick Cutrone Patrick Cutrone ( -LSB- kuˈtroːne -RSB- ; born 3 January 1998 ) is an Italian footballer who plays as a forward for Milan .


Dracula is a novel written by someone who died in 1910.

Bram Stoker Abraham `` Bram '' Stoker ( 8 November 1847 -- 20 April 1912 ) was an Irish author , best known today for his 1897 Gothic novel Dracula . During his lifetime , he was better known as the personal assistant of actor Henry Irving and business manager of the Lyceum Theatre in London , which Irving owned .


Dracula Dracula is an 1897 Gothic horror novel by Irish author Bram Stoker . It introduced the famous character Count Dracula and established many conventions of subsequent vampire fantasy . The novel tells the story of Dracula 's attempt to move from Transylvania to England so that he may find new blood and spread the undead curse , and of the battle between Dracula and a small group of men and women led by Professor Abraham Van Helsing .   Dracula has been assigned to many literary genres including vampire literature , horror fiction , the gothic novel , and invasion literature . The novel has spawned numerous theatrical , film , and television interpretations .


The United States House of Representatives is given the task of passing federal legislation.

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the United States Congress which , along with the Senate , composes the legislature of the United States .   The composition and powers of the House are established by Article One of the United States Constitution . The House is composed of representatives who sit in congressional districts which are allocated to each of the 50 states on a basis of population as measured by the U.S. Census , with each district entitled one representative . Since its inception in 1789 , all representatives are elected popularly . The total number of voting representatives is fixed by law at 435 . As of the 2010 Census , the largest delegation is that of California , with fifty-three representatives ; seven states have the smallest delegation possible , a single representative : Alaska , Delaware , Montana , North Dakota , South Dakota , Vermont , and Wyoming .   The House is charged with the passage of federal legislation , known as bills , which , after concurrence by the Senate , are sent to the President for consideration . In addition to this basic power , the House has certain exclusive powers which include the power to initiate all bills related to revenue , the impeachment of federal officers , who are sent to trial in the Senate , and in cases wherein no candidate receives a majority of electors for President , the duty falls upon the House to elect one of the top three recipients of electors for that office , with one vote given to each state for that purpose .   The presiding officer is the Speaker of the House , who is elected by the members thereof and is therefore traditionally the leader of the controlling party . He or she and other floor leaders are chosen by the Democratic Caucus or the Republican Conferences , depending on whichever party has more voting members . The House meets in the south wing of the United States Capitol .


Jeremy Allen White was named on February.

Jeremy Allen White Jeremy Allen White ( born February 17 , 1991 ) is an American film and television actor . He is best known for playing Phillip `` Lip '' Gallagher on the acclaimed Showtime dramedy series Shameless .   White has appeared in several films including Beautiful Ohio , The Speed of Life , Afterschool and Twelve , currently filming `` Shotgun ''


Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens ( -LSB- ˈdɪkᵻnz -RSB- 7 February 1812 -- 9 June 1870 ) was an English writer and social critic . He created some of the world 's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era . His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime , and by the twentieth century critics and scholars had recognised him as a literary genius . His novels and short stories enjoy lasting popularity .   Born in Portsmouth , Dickens left school to work in a factory when his father was incarcerated in a debtors ' prison . Despite his lack of formal education , he edited a weekly journal for 20 years , wrote 15 novels , five novellas , hundreds of short stories and non-fiction articles , lectured and performed extensively , was an indefatigable letter writer , and campaigned vigorously for children 's rights , education , and other social reforms .   Dickens 's literary success began with the 1836 serial publication of The Pickwick Papers . Within a few years he had become an international literary celebrity , famous for his humour , satire , and keen observation of character and society . His novels , most published in monthly or weekly instalments , pioneered the serial publication of narrative fiction , which became the dominant Victorian mode for novel publication . The instalment format allowed Dickens to evaluate his audience 's reaction , and he often modified his plot and character development based on such feedback . For example , when his wife 's chiropodist expressed distress at the way Miss Mowcher in David Copperfield seemed to reflect her disabilities , Dickens improved the character with positive features . His plots were carefully constructed , and he often wove elements from topical events into his narratives . Masses of the illiterate poor chipped in ha ` pennies to have each new monthly episode read to them , opening up and inspiring a new class of readers .   Dickens was regarded as the literary colossus of his age . His 1843 novella , A Christmas Carol , remains popular and continues to inspire adaptations in every artistic genre . Oliver Twist and Great Expectations are also frequently adapted , and , like many of his novels , evoke images of early Victorian London . His 1859 novel , A Tale of Two Cities , set in London and Paris , is his best-known work of historical fiction . Dickens has been praised by fellow writers -- from Leo Tolstoy to George Orwell and G. K. Chesterton -- for his realism , comedy , prose style , unique characterisations , and social criticism . On the other hand , Oscar Wilde , Henry James , and Virginia Woolf complained of a lack of psychological depth , loose writing , and a vein of saccharine sentimentalism . The term Dickensian is used to describe something that is reminiscent of Dickens and his writings , such as poor social conditions or comically repulsive characters .


Rhode Island was the fourth state to ratify the Articles of Confederation in 1777.

Rhode Island Rhode Island ( -LSB- roʊd_ˈaɪlənd -RSB- ) , officially the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations , is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States . Rhode Island is the smallest in area , the eighth least populous , and the second most densely populated of the 50 U.S. states , following New Jersey . Its official name is also the longest of any state in the Union . Rhode Island is bordered by Connecticut to the west , Massachusetts to the north and east , and the Atlantic Ocean to the south via Rhode Island Sound and Block Island Sound . The state also shares a short maritime border with New York .   On May 4 , 1776 , the Colony of Rhode Island became the first of the Thirteen Colonies to renounce its allegiance to the British Crown , and was the fourth among the newly sovereign states to ratify the Articles of Confederation on February 9 , 1778 . It boycotted the 1787 convention that drew up the United States Constitution and initially refused to ratify it . On May 29 , 1790 , Rhode Island became the 13th and last state to ratify the Constitution .   Rhode Island 's official nickname is `` The Ocean State '' , a reference to the fact that the state has several large bays and inlets that amount to about 14 % of its total area . Rhode Island covers 1214 sqmi , of which 1045 sqmi are land .


Alan Ladd Alan Walbridge Ladd ( September 3 , 1913 -- January 29 , 1964 ) was an American actor and film and television producer . Ladd found success in film in the 1940s and early 1950s , particularly in Westerns such as Shane ( 1953 ) and films noir in which he was often paired with Veronica Lake , such as This Gun for Hire ( 1942 ) , The Glass Key ( 1942 ) and The Blue Dahlia ( 1946 ) . Other notable credits include Two Years Before the Mast ( 1946 ) , Whispering Smith ( 1949 ) and The Great Gatsby ( 1949 ) . His popularity diminished in the late 1950s , though he continued to appear in popular films until his accidental death due to a lethal combination of alcohol , a barbiturate , and two tranquilizers .


Ellen DeGeneres has played an openly lesbian character on TV.

Ellen DeGeneres Ellen Lee DeGeneres ( -LSB- dᵻˈdʒɛnərᵻs -RSB- born January 26 , 1958 ) is an American comedian , television host , actress , writer , and producer . DeGeneres starred in the popular sitcom Ellen from 1994 to 1998 and has hosted her syndicated TV talk show , The Ellen DeGeneres Show , since 2003 .   Her stand-up career started in the early 1980s , and included a 1986 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson . As a film actress , DeGeneres starred in Mr. Wrong ( 1996 ) , appeared in EDtv ( 1999 ) , and The Love Letter ( 1999 ) , and provided the voice of Dory in the Pixar animated films Finding Nemo ( 2003 ) and Finding Dory ( 2016 ) ; for Nemo , she was awarded the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress , the first time an actress won a Saturn Award for a voice performance . In 2010 , she was a judge on American Idol for its ninth season .   She starred in two television sitcoms , Ellen from 1994 to 1998 , and The Ellen Show from 2001 to 2002 . During the fourth season of Ellen in 1997 , she came out as a lesbian in an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show . Her character , Ellen Morgan , also came out to a therapist played by Winfrey , and the series went on to explore various LGBT issues , including the coming-out process . This made her the first openly lesbian actress to play an openly lesbian character on television . In 2008 , she married her longtime girlfriend Portia de Rossi .   DeGeneres has hosted the Academy Awards , Grammy Awards , and the Primetime Emmys . She has authored three books and started her own record company , Eleveneleven . She has won 29 Emmys , 20 People 's Choice Awards ( more than any other person ) , and numerous other awards for her work and charitable efforts . In 2016 , she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom .


Lion The lion ( Panthera leo ) is one of the big cats in the genus Panthera and a member of the family Felidae . The commonly used term African lion collectively denotes the several subspecies in Africa . With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight , it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger , barring hybrids like the liger . Wild lions currently exist in sub-Saharan Africa and in India ( where an endangered remnant population resides in and around Gir Forest National Park ) . In ancient historic times , their range was in most of Africa , including North Africa , and across Eurasia from Greece and southeastern Europe to India . In the late Pleistocene , about 10,000 years ago , the lion was the most widespread large land mammal after humans : Panthera leo spelaea lived in northern and western Europe and Panthera leo atrox lived in the Americas from the Yukon to Peru . The lion is classified as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN ) , having seen a major population decline in its African range of 30 -- 50 % over two decades during the second half of the twentieth century . Lion populations are untenable outside designated reserves and national parks . Although the cause of the decline is not fully understood , habitat loss and conflicts with humans are the greatest causes of concern . Within Africa , the West African lion population is particularly endangered .   In the wilderness , males seldom live longer than 10 to 14 years , as injuries sustained from continual fighting with rival males greatly reduce their longevity . In captivity they can live more than 20 years . They typically inhabit savanna and grassland , although they may take to bush and forest . Lions are unusually social compared to other cats . A pride of lions consists of related females and offspring and a small number of adult males . Groups of female lions typically hunt together , preying mostly on large ungulates . Lions are apex and keystone predators , although they are also expert scavengers obtaining over 50 percent of their food by scavenging as opportunity allows . While lions do not typically hunt humans , some have . Sleeping mainly during the day , lions are active primarily at night ( nocturnal ) , although sometimes at twilight ( crepuscular ) .   Highly distinctive , the male lion is easily recognised by its mane , and its face is one of the most widely recognised animal symbols in human culture . Depictions have existed from the Upper Paleolithic period , with carvings and paintings from the Lascaux and Chauvet Caves in France dated to 17,000 years ago , through virtually all ancient and medieval cultures where they once occurred . It has been extensively depicted in sculptures , in paintings , on national flags , and in contemporary films and literature . Lions have been kept in menageries since the time of the Roman Empire , and have been a key species sought for exhibition in zoos over the world since the late eighteenth century . Zoos are cooperating worldwide in breeding programs for the endangered Asiatic subspecies .


Felidae The biological family Felidae is a lineage of carnivorans that includes the cats . A member of this family is also called a felid .   The characteristic features of cats have evolved to support a carnivorous lifestyle , with adaptations for ambush or stalking and short pursuit hunting . They have gracile and muscular bodies , strong flexible forelimbs and retractable claws for holding prey , dental and cranial adaptations for a strong bite , and often have characteristic striped or spotted coat patterns for camouflage . Cats are obligate carnivores , meaning they are dependent on nutrients in animal flesh for survival , and because of the large proportion of meat in their diet are sometimes referred to as hypercarnivores . Of the 13 terrestrial families in the order Carnivora , they are the strictest carnivores .   Living cats belong to two subfamilies , the Pantherinae and Felinae . The former comprises the `` big cats '' ( the tiger , lion , jaguar , leopard , snow leopard , clouded leopard and Sunda clouded leopard ) . Felinae comprises all the non-pantherine cats , which range in size from the small rusty-spotted cat to the big cat-sized puma and includes such diverse forms as the lynx , ocelot , serval and cheetah , as well as the domestic cat .   The first cats emerged during the Oligocene , about 25 million years ago , with the appearance of Proailurus and Pseudaelurus . The latter species complex was ancestral to two main lines of felids , the cats in the extant subfamilies and a third major group of extinct cats , which are assigned to the subfamily Machairodontinae . The machairodonts included the saber-toothed cats such as the Smilodon . The `` false sabre toothed cats '' , the Barbourofelidae and Nimravidae , are not true cats , but are closely related and together with Felidae and other cat-like carnivores ( hyaenas , viverrids and mongooses ) make up the feliform carnivores .


Apex predator An apex predator , also known as an alpha predator or apical predator , is a predator residing at the top of a food chain upon which no other creatures prey.Zoologists generally define predation as the non-parasitical or non-bacterial killing and consumption of organisms . Apex predators are usually defined in terms of trophic dynamics , meaning that apex-predator species occupy the highest trophic level or levels and play a crucial role in maintaining the health of their ecosystems . One study of marine food webs defined apex predators as greater than trophic level four . The apex predator concept is commonly applied in wildlife management , conservation and ecotourism .   Food chains are often far shorter on land , with their apices usually limited to the third trophic level -- for example , giant constrictor snakes , crocodilians , hyenas , wolves or big cats preying mostly upon large herbivores . Apex predators do not need to be hypercarnivores .


Jared Kushner Jared Corey Kushner ( born January 10 , 1981 ) is an American real estate investor and developer , newspaper owner , and senior advisor to President Donald Trump .   Kushner is the elder son of real-estate developer Charles Kushner and is married to Trump 's daughter Ivanka . He was principal owner of the real-estate holding and development company Kushner Companies and of Observer Media , publisher of the New York Observer . He is the co-founder and part owner of Cadre , an online real-estate investment platform .   On January 9 , 2017 , Kushner was named as a senior White House advisor . He consequently resigned as CEO of Kushner Companies and as publisher of the Observer , but his private financial interests remain a subject of controversy . Kushner helped develop and run Trump 's digital media strategy .


Mark Zuckerberg is a computer programmer.

Mark Zuckerberg Mark Elliot Zuckerberg ( born May 14 , 1984 ) is an American computer programmer and Internet entrepreneur . He is a co-founder of Facebook , and currently operates as its chairman and chief executive officer . His net worth is estimated to be US$ 63.3 billion as of May 2017 , and he is ranked by Forbes as the fifth richest person in the world .   Zuckerberg launched Facebook from his Harvard University dormitory room on February 4 , 2004 . He was assisted by his college roommates and fellow Harvard students Eduardo Saverin , Andrew McCollum , Dustin Moskovitz , and Chris Hughes . The group then introduced Facebook to other college campuses . Facebook expanded rapidly , reaching one billion users by 2012 . Meanwhile , Zuckerberg was involved in various legal disputes brought by others in the group , who claimed a share of the company based upon their involvement during the development phase of Facebook .   In December 2012 , Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan announced that over the course of their lives they would give the majority of their wealth to `` advancing human potential and promoting equality '' in the spirit of The Giving Pledge . On December 1 , 2015 , they announced they would eventually give 99 percent of their Facebook shares ( worth about US$ 45 billion at the time ) to the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative .   Since 2010 , Time magazine has named Zuckerberg among the 100 wealthiest and most influential people in the world as a part of its Person of the Year award . In December 2016 , Zuckerberg was ranked 10th on Forbes list of The World 's Most Powerful People . According to Forbes Magazine , Zuckerberg has a net worth of US$ 63.3 billion as of May 2017 .


Portugal has a high-income advanced economy.

Portugal Portugal ( Portuguese : -LSB- puɾtuˈɣaɫ -RSB- ) , officially the Portuguese Republic ( -LSB- República Portuguesa , links = no -RSB- ) ( Portuguese : -LSB- ʁɨ ` publikɐ puɾtu ' ɣezɐ -RSB- ) In recognized minority languages of Portugal :  República Pertuesa is a sovereign state located on the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe . It is the westernmost country of mainland Europe . To the west and south it is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and to the east and north by Spain . The Portugal -- Spain border is 1214 km long and considered the longest uninterrupted border within the European Union . The republic also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira , both autonomous regions with their own regional governments .   The territory of modern Portugal has been continuously settled , invaded and fought over since prehistoric times . The Pre-Celts , Celts , Carthaginians and Romans were followed by the invasions of the Visigothic and the Suebi Germanic peoples . Portugal as a country was born in the aftermath of the Christian Reconquista against the Moors who had invaded the Iberian Peninsula in 711 AD and occupied most of it ever since . Precipitated by the seminal event for its foundation , the Battle of São Mamede , where Portuguese forces led by Afonso Henriques defeated forces led by his mother Theresa of Portugal and her lover Fernão Peres de Trava , which established the nation 's sovereignty against rival neighbor kingdoms . Following São Mamede , the future king styled himself Prince of Portugal . He would be proclaimed King of Portugal in the Battle of Ourique in 1139 and was recognised as such by neighbouring kingdoms in 1143 .   In the 15th and 16th centuries , Portugal established the first global empire , becoming one of the world 's major economic , political and military powers . During this time , Portuguese explorers pioneered maritime exploration in the Age of Discovery , notably under royal patronage of Prince Henry the Navigator and King João II , with such notable discoveries as Bartolomeu Dias 's reach of the Cape of Good Hope ( 1488 ) , the Vasco da Gama 's sea route to India ( 1497 -- 98 ) and the discovery of Brazil ( 1500 ) . Portugal monopolized the spice trade during this time , and the Portuguese Empire expanded with military campaigns led in Asia . But the destruction of Lisbon in a 1755 earthquake , the country 's occupation during the Napoleonic Wars , the independence of Brazil ( 1822 ) , and the Liberal Wars ( 1828 -- 34 ) , all left Portugal crippled from war and diminished in its world power .   After the 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy , the democratic but unstable Portuguese First Republic was established , later being superseded by the Estado Novo right-wing authoritarian regime . Democracy was restored after the Portuguese Colonial War and the Carnation Revolution in 1974 . Shortly after , independence was granted to almost all its overseas territories . The handover of Macau to China in 1999 marked the end of the longest-lived colonial empire . Portugal has left a profound cultural and architectural influence across the globe and a legacy of over 250 million Portuguese speakers today .   Portugal is a developed country with a high-income advanced economy and a high living standard . It is the 5th most peaceful country in the world , maintaining a unitary semi-presidential republican form of government . It has the 18th highest Social Progress in the world , putting it ahead of other Western European countries like France , Spain and Italy . A founding member of NATO and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries , it is also a member of numerous other international organizations , including the United Nations , the European Union , the eurozone , and the OECD .   Portugal is a pioneer when it comes to drug decriminalization , as the nation decriminalized the possession of all drugs for personal use in 2001 .   LGBT rights in Portugal have improved substantially in the past two decades and are now among the best in the world . Moreover , after years of investment and cooperation , Portugal marked a climax on renewable energy worldwide in 2016 , when it was powered for 107 consecutive hours exclusively by wind , sun , and water , which advocates say further shows fossil fuels are indeed replaceable .


Punisher The Punisher ( Francis `` Frank '' Castle ) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics . The character was created by writer Gerry Conway and artists John Romita Sr. and Ross Andru , with publisher Stan Lee green-lighting the name . The Punisher made his first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man # 129 ( cover-dated Feb. 1974 ) .   The Punisher is a vigilante who employs murder , kidnapping , extortion , coercion , threats of violence , and torture in his war on crime . Driven by the deaths of his wife and two children , who were killed by the mob for witnessing a killing in New York City 's Central Park , the Punisher wages a one-man war on the mob and all criminals in general by using all manner of conventional war weaponry . His family 's killers were the first to be slain . A war veteran and a United States Marine Corps Scout Sniper , Frank Castle ( born Francis Castiglione ) is a master of martial arts , stealth tactics , guerrilla warfare , and a wide variety of weapons .   The Punisher 's brutal nature and willingness to kill made him a novel character in mainstream American comic books in 1974 . By the late 1980s , he was part of a wave of psychologically troubled antiheroes and at the height of his popularity , was featured in four monthly publications , including The Punisher , The Punisher War Journal , The Punisher War Zone , and The Punisher Armory . Despite his violent actions and dark nature , the Punisher has enjoyed some mainstream success on television , making guest appearances on Spider-Man : The Animated Series , and The Super Hero Squad Show , where the depiction of his violent behavior was toned down for family viewers . In feature films , Dolph Lundgren portrayed the Punisher in 1989 , as did Thomas Jane in 2004 , and Ray Stevenson in 2008 . Jon Bernthal portrays the character in the second season of Marvel 's Daredevil as a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe . Bernthal is set to reprise the role in The Punisher , his own self-titled series .


Character (arts) A character ( sometimes known as a fictional character ) is a person or other being in a narrative work of art ( such as a novel , play , television series , or film ) . The character may be entirely fictional or based on a real-life person , in which case the distinction of a `` fictional '' versus `` real '' character may be made . Derived from the ancient Greek word χαρακτήρ , the English word dates from the Restoration , although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749 . From this , the sense of `` a part played by an actor '' developed . Character , particularly when enacted by an actor in the theatre or cinema , involves `` the illusion of being a human person . '' In literature , characters guide readers through their stories , helping them to understand plots and ponder themes . Since the end of the 18th century , the phrase `` in character '' has been used to describe an effective impersonation by an actor . Since the 19th century , the art of creating characters , as practiced by actors or writers , has been called characterisation .   A character who stands as a representative of a particular class or group of people is known as a type . Types include both stock characters and those that are more fully individualised . The characters in Henrik Ibsen 's Hedda Gabler ( 1891 ) and August Strindberg 's Miss Julie ( 1888 ) , for example , are representative of specific positions in the social relations of class and gender , such that the conflicts between the characters reveal ideological conflicts .   The study of a character requires an analysis of its relations with all of the other characters in the work . The individual status of a character is defined through the network of oppositions ( proairetic , pragmatic , linguistic , proxemic ) that it forms with the other characters . The relation between characters and the action of the story shifts historically , often miming shifts in society and its ideas about human individuality , self-determination , and the social order .


Italy Italy ( Italia -LSB- iˈtaːlja -RSB- ) , officially the Italian Republic ( -LSB- Repubblica italiana , links = no -RSB- ) , is a unitary parliamentary republic in Europe.The Italian peninsula is geographically located in Southern Europe , while North Italy can be placed partly or totally in Central Europe . Due to cultural , political and historical reasons , Italy is a Western European country . Located in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea , Italy shares open land borders with France , Switzerland , Austria , Slovenia , San Marino and Vatican City . Italy covers an area of 301338 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal and Mediterranean climate . Due to its shape , it is often referred to in Italy as lo Stivale ( the Boot ) . With 61 million inhabitants , it is the fourth most populous EU member state .   Since classical times , ancient Phoenicians , Carthaginians and Greeks established settlements in the south of Italy , with Etruscans and Celts inhabiting the centre and north of Italy respectively and various different ancient Italian tribes and Italic peoples dispersed throughout the Italian Peninsula and insular Italy . The Italic tribe known as the Latins formed the Roman Kingdom , which eventually became a republic that conquered and assimilated other nearby civilisations . Rome ultimately emerged as the dominant power in the Mediterranean basin , conquering much of the ancient world and becoming the leading cultural , political and religious centre of Western civilisation . The legacy of the Roman Empire is widespread and can be observed in the global distribution of civilian law , republican governments , Christianity and the Latin script .   During the Middle Ages , Italy suffered sociopolitical collapse amid calamitous barbarian invasions , but by the 11th century numerous rival city-states and maritime republics rose to great prosperity through shipping , commerce and banking , laying down the groundwork for modern capitalism . These independent statelets , acting as Europe 's main trading hubs with Asia and the Near East , often enjoyed a greater degree of democracy and wealth in comparison to the larger feudal monarchies that were consolidating throughout Europe at the time , though much of central Italy remained under the control of the theocratic Papal States , while Southern Italy remained largely feudal until the 19th century , partially as a result of a succession of Byzantine , Arab , Norman , Spanish and Bourbon conquests of the region .   The Renaissance began in Italy and spread to the rest of Europe , bringing a renewed interest in humanism , science , exploration and art . Italian culture flourished at this time , producing famous scholars , artists and polymaths such as Leonardo da Vinci , Galileo , Michelangelo and Machiavelli . Italian explorers such as Marco Polo , Christopher Columbus , Amerigo Vespucci and Giovanni da Verrazzano discovered new routes to the Far East and the New World , helping to usher in the European Age of Discovery . Nevertheless , Italy 's commercial and political power significantly waned with the opening of the Atlantic trade route and the route to the Indian Ocean via the Cape of Good Hope , which bypassed the Mediterranean . Furthermore , the Italian city-states constantly engaged one another in bloody warfare , culminating in the Italian Wars of the 15th and 16th centuries that left them exhausted , with no one emerging as a dominant power . The weakened sovereigns soon fell victim to conquest by European powers such as France , Spain and Austria .   By the mid-19th century , a rising movement in support of Italian nationalism and independence from foreign control led to a period of revolutionary political upheaval known as the Risorgimento , which sought the formation of a unified nation-state . After various unsuccessful attempts , the Italian Wars of Independence and the Expedition of the Thousand resulted in the eventual unification of the country in 1861 , now a great power after centuries of foreign domination and political division . From the late 19th century to the early 20th century , the new Kingdom of Italy rapidly industrialised , although mainly in the north , and acquired a colonial empire , while the south remained largely impoverished and excluded from industrialisation , fuelling a large and influential diaspora . Despite being one of the main victors in World War I , Italy entered a period of economic crisis and social turmoil , leading the way to the rise of a fascist dictatorship in 1922 . The subsequent participation in World War II on the Axis side ended in military defeat , economic destruction and an Italian civil war . Following the liberation of Italy and the rise of the resistance , the country abolished the monarchy , reinstated democracy , enjoyed a prolonged economic boom and , despite periods of sociopolitical turmoil ( e.g. Anni di piombo , Mani pulite , the Second Mafia War , the Maxi Trial and subsequent assassinations of anti-mafia officials ) , became a major developed country .   Today , Italy has the third largest economy in the Eurozone and the eighth largest in the world . It has a very high level of human development and is ranked sixth in the world for life expectancy . The country plays a prominent role in regional and global economic , military , cultural and diplomatic affairs , and it is both a regional power and a great power . Italy is a founding and leading member of the European Union and the member of numerous international institutions , including the UN , NATO , the OECD , the OSCE , the WTO , the G7/G8 , G20 , the Union for the Mediterranean , the Council of Europe , Uniting for Consensus and many more . As a reflection of its cultural wealth , Italy is home to 51 World Heritage Sites , the most in the world , and is the fifth most visited country .


The United States Congress fails to include the United States Senate.

United States Congress The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States consisting of two chambers : the Senate and the House of Representatives . The Congress meets in the Capitol in Washington , D.C. Both senators and representatives are chosen through direct election , though vacancies in the Senate may be filled by a gubernatorial appointment . Members are usually affiliated to the Republican Party or to the Democratic Party , and only rarely to a third party or as independents . Congress has 535 voting members : 435 Representatives and 100 Senators . The House of Representatives has six non-voting members in addition to its 435 voting members . These members can , however , sit on congressional committees and introduce legislation . These members represent Washington , D.C. , Puerto Rico , American Samoa , Guam , the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands .   The members of the House of Representatives serve two-year terms representing the people of a single constituency , known as a `` district '' . Congressional districts are apportioned to states by population using the United States Census results , provided that each state has at least one congressional representative . Each state , regardless of population or size , has two senators . Currently , there are 100 senators representing the 50 states . Each senator is elected at-large in their state for a six-year term , with terms staggered , so every two years approximately one-third of the Senate is up for election .


Cerebral palsy Cerebral palsy ( CP ) is a group of permanent movement disorders that appear in early childhood . Signs and symptoms vary among people . Often , symptoms include poor coordination , stiff muscles , weak muscles , and tremors . There may be problems with sensation , vision , hearing , swallowing , and speaking . Often babies with cerebral palsy do not roll over , sit , crawl , or walk as early as other children of their age . Other symptoms include seizures and problems with thinking or reasoning , each of which occurs in about one third of people with CP . While the symptoms may get more noticeable over the first few years of life , the underlying problems do not worsen over time .   Cerebral palsy is caused by abnormal development or damage to the parts of the brain that control movement , balance , and posture . Most often the problems occur during pregnancy ; however , they may also occur during childbirth , or shortly after birth . Often the cause is unknown . Risk factors include preterm birth , being a twin , certain infections during pregnancy such as toxoplasmosis or rubella , exposure to methylmercury during pregnancy , a difficult delivery , and head trauma during the first few years of life , among others . About 2 % of cases are believed to be due to an inherited genetic cause . A number of sub-types are classified based on the specific problems present . For example , those with stiff muscles have spastic cerebral palsy , those with poor coordination have ataxic cerebral palsy , and those with writhing movements have athetoid cerebral palsy . Diagnosis is based on the child 's development over time . Blood tests and medical imaging may be used to rule out other possible causes .   CP is partly preventable through immunization of the mother and efforts to prevent head injuries in children such as through improved safety . There is no cure for CP ; however , supportive treatments , medications , and surgery may help many individuals . This may include physical therapy , occupational therapy , and speech therapy . Medications such as diazepam , baclofen , and botulinum toxin may help relax stiff muscles . Surgery may include lengthening muscles and cutting overly active nerves . Often external braces and other assistive technology are helpful . Some affected children can achieve near normal adult lives with appropriate treatment . While alternative medicines are frequently used there is no evidence to support their use .   CP is the most common movement disorder in children . It occurs in about 2.1 per 1,000 live births . Cerebral palsy has been documented throughout history with the first known descriptions occurring in the work of Hippocrates in the 5th century BCE . Extensive study of the condition began in the 19th century by William John Little , after whom spastic diplegia was called `` Little disease '' . William Osler first named it `` cerebral palsy '' from the German `` zerebrale Kinderlähmung '' ( cerebral child-paralysis ) . A number of potential treatments are being examined , including stem cell therapy . However , more research is required to determine if it is effective and safe .


There is a drama film called The Prince of Egypt.

The Prince of Egypt The Prince of Egypt is a 1998 American animated epic musical drama film and the first traditional animated film produced and released by DreamWorks . The film is an adaptation of the Book of Exodus and follows the life of Moses from being a prince of Egypt to his ultimate destiny to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt . Directed by Brenda Chapman , Steve Hickner , and Simon Wells , the film features songs written by Stephen Schwartz and a score composed by Hans Zimmer . The voice cast consists of Val Kilmer in a dual role , Ralph Fiennes , Michelle Pfeiffer , Sandra Bullock , Jeff Goldblum , Danny Glover , Patrick Stewart , Helen Mirren , Steve Martin , and Martin Short .   Jeffrey Katzenberg had frequently suggested an animated adaptation of the 1956 film The Ten Commandments while working for The Walt Disney Company , and he decided to put the idea into production after founding DreamWorks in 1995 . To make this inaugural project , DreamWorks employed artists who had worked for Walt Disney Feature Animation and the recently disbanded Amblimation , totaling a crew of 350 people from 34 different nations . The film has a blend of traditional animation and computer-generated imagery , created using software from Toon Boom Animation and Silicon Graphics .   Theatrically released on December 18 , 1998 , and on home video on September 14 , 1999 , reviews were generally positive , with critics praising the animation , music , and voice work . The film went on to gross over $ 218 million worldwide in theaters , which made it the most successful non-Disney animated feature at the time . The film 's success led to the direct-to-video prequel Joseph : King of Dreams ( 2000 ) and the development of a stage adaptation . The song `` When You Believe '' became a commercially successful single in a pop version performed by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey , and went on to win Best Original Song at the 1999 Academy Awards .


Facebook is a social networking service.

Facebook Facebook is an American for-profit corporation and an online social media and social networking service based in Menlo Park , California . The Facebook website was launched on February 4 , 2004 , by Mark Zuckerberg , along with fellow Harvard College students and roommates , Eduardo Saverin , Andrew McCollum , Dustin Moskovitz , and Chris Hughes .   The founders had initially limited the website 's membership to Harvard students ; however , later they expanded it to higher education institutions in the Boston area , the Ivy League schools , and Stanford University . Facebook gradually added support for students at various other universities , and eventually to high school students as well . Since 2006 , anyone age 13 and older has been allowed to become a registered user of Facebook , though variations exist in the minimum age requirement , depending on applicable local laws . The Facebook name comes from the face book directories often given to United States university students .   Facebook may be accessed by a large range of desktops , laptops , tablet computers , and smartphones over the Internet and mobile networks . After registering to use the site , users can create a user profile indicating their name , occupation , schools attended and so on . Users can add other users as `` friends '' , exchange messages , post status updates and digital photos , share digital videos and links , use various software applications ( `` apps '' ) , and receive notifications when others update their profiles or make posts . Additionally , users may join common-interest user groups organized by workplace , school , hobbies or other topics , and categorize their friends into lists such as `` People From Work '' or `` Close Friends '' . In groups , editors can pin posts to top . Additionally , users can complain about or block unpleasant people . Because of the large volume of data that users submit to the service , Facebook has come under scrutiny for its privacy policies . Facebook makes most of its revenue from advertisements which appear onscreen .   Facebook , Inc. held its initial public offering ( IPO ) in February 2012 , and began selling stock to the public three months later , reaching an original peak market capitalization of $ 104 billion . On July 13 , 2015 , Facebook became the fastest company in the Standard & Poor 's 500 Index to reach a market cap of $ 250 billion . Facebook has more than 1.94 billion monthly active users as of March 31 , 2017 . As of April 2016 , Facebook was the most popular social networking site in the world , based on the number of active user accounts . Facebook classifies users from the ages of 13 to 18 as minors and therefore sets their profiles to share content with friends only .


The Illuminati have been featured in written stories.

Illuminati The Illuminati ( plural of Latin illuminatus , `` enlightened '' ) is a name given to several groups , both real and fictitious . Historically , the name usually refers to the Bavarian Illuminati , an Enlightenment-era secret society founded on 1 May 1776 . The society 's goals were to oppose superstition , obscurantism , religious influence over public life and abuses of state power . `` The order of the day , '' they wrote in their general statutes , `` is to put an end to the machinations of the purveyors of injustice , to control them without dominating them '' . The Illuminati -- along with Freemasonry and other secret societies -- were outlawed through edict , by the Bavarian ruler , Charles Theodore , with the encouragement of the Roman Catholic Church , in 1784 , 1785 , 1787 and 1790 . In the several years following , the group was vilified by conservative and religious critics who claimed that they continued underground and were responsible for the French Revolution .   Many influential intellectuals and progressive politicians counted themselves as members , including Ferdinand of Brunswick and the diplomat Xavier von Zwack , who was the Order 's second-in-command . It attracted literary men such as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Johann Gottfried Herder and the reigning dukes of Gotha and Weimar .   In subsequent use , `` Illuminati '' refers to various organisations which claim or are purported to have links to the original Bavarian Illuminati or similar secret societies , though these links are unsubstantiated . They are often alleged to conspire to control world affairs , by masterminding events and planting agents in government and corporations , in order to gain political power and influence and to establish a New World Order . Central to some of the most widely known and elaborate conspiracy theories , the Illuminati have been depicted as lurking in the shadows and pulling the strings and levers of power in dozens of novels , films , television shows , comics , video games , and music videos .


The G1 Climax is a professional wrestling tournament.

G1 Climax __ NOTOC __  The G1 ( Grade One ) Climax is a professional wrestling tournament held each August by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling promotion . The G1 draws standing room only crowds each night , record receipt gates and generates front-page coverage on the sports sections of several of the daily newspapers in Tokyo . Though it has sometimes been held as a single-elimination tournament , it is usually ( and currently ) held as a round-robin , with winners from two blocks wrestling in the final to decide that year 's winner . In its current format , the tournament lasts four weeks . The winner of each block is determined by a points system ; two points for a victory , one point for a draw , and zero points for a loss .


Cupid (2009 TV series) is a television show.

Cupid (2009 TV series) Cupid is an American comedy-drama television series that aired on ABC from March 31 to June 16 , 2009 and was broadcast Tuesdays at 10:02 PM Eastern/9 :02 PM Central . The series is a revival of sorts of the network 's 1998 series of the same name , changing its primary setting from Chicago to New York City .  Cupid was canceled on May 19 , 2009 .


Independence Day: Resurgence was first released in America.

Independence Day: Resurgence Independence Day : Resurgence is a 2016 American science fiction film written and directed by Roland Emmerich with co-writers Dean Devlin , Nicolas Wright , James A. Woods , and James Vanderbilt . As sequel to the 1996 film Independence Day , it stars an ensemble cast featuring Liam Hemsworth , Jeff Goldblum , Bill Pullman , Maika Monroe , Jessie Usher , Travis Tope , William Fichtner , Charlotte Gainsbourg , Judd Hirsch , Brent Spiner and Sela Ward .   The film takes place twenty years after the events of the first film , during which the United Nations has collaborated to form Earth Space Defense ( ESD ) , an international military defense and research organization . Through reverse engineering , the world has harnessed the power of alien technology and laid the groundwork to resist a second invasion .   Plans for a sequel to Independence Day began as early as 2001 , with 20th Century Fox eventually green-lighting the project in 2014 . Principal photography began in April 2015 at locations primarily in New Mexico but also in the Bonneville Salt Flats of Utah , which were featured in the original . Independence Day : Resurgence was released in the United States on June 24 , 2016 , in 2D , 3D , and IMAX 3D , grossing $ 389.7 million worldwide at the box office . The film received generally unfavorable reviews from critics , who found the plot convoluted and action sequences overblown , though some praised its overall humor .


The Hobbit received wide critical acclaim.

The Hobbit The Hobbit , or There and Back Again is a children 's fantasy novel by English author J. R. R. Tolkien . It was published on 21 September 1937 to wide critical acclaim , being nominated for the Carnegie Medal and awarded a prize from the New York Herald Tribune for best juvenile fiction . The book remains popular and is recognized as a classic in children 's literature .   The Hobbit is set in a time `` between the Dawn of Færie and the Dominion of Men '' , and follows the quest of home-loving hobbit Bilbo Baggins to win a share of the treasure guarded by Smaug the dragon . Bilbo 's journey takes him from light-hearted , rural surroundings into more sinister territory .   The story is told in the form of an episodic quest , and most chapters introduce a specific creature or type of creature of Tolkien 's geography . Bilbo gains a new level of maturity , competence , and wisdom by accepting the disreputable , romantic , fey , and adventurous sides of his nature and applying his wits and common sense .  The story reaches its climax in the Battle of the Five Armies , where many of the characters and creatures from earlier chapters re-emerge to engage in conflict .   Personal growth and forms of heroism are central themes of the story , along with motifs of warfare . These themes have led critics to view Tolkien 's own experiences during World War I as instrumental in shaping the story . The author 's scholarly knowledge of Germanic philology and interest in fairy tales are often noted as influences .   The publisher was encouraged by the book 's critical and financial success and , therefore , requested a sequel . As Tolkien 's work progressed on the successor The Lord of the Rings , he made retrospective accommodations for it in The Hobbit . These few but significant changes were integrated into the second edition . Further editions followed with minor emendations , including those reflecting Tolkien 's changing concept of the world into which Bilbo stumbled .   The work has never been out of print . Its ongoing legacy encompasses many adaptations for stage , screen , radio , board games , and video games . Several of these adaptations have received critical recognition on their own merits .


Leonardo da Vinci is completely unaffiliated with Ludovico il Moro.

Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci ( -LSB- leoˈnardo di ˌsɛr ˈpjɛːro da ( v ) ˈvintʃi -RSB- ; 15 April 14522 May 1519 ) , more commonly Leonardo da Vinci or simply Leonardo , was an Italian polymath whose areas of interest included invention , painting , sculpting , architecture , science , music , mathematics , engineering , literature , anatomy , geology , astronomy , botany , writing , history , and cartography . He has been variously called the father of palaeontology , ichnology , and architecture , and is widely considered one of the greatest painters of all time . Sometimes credited with the inventions of the parachute , helicopter and tank , he epitomised the Renaissance humanist ideal .   Many historians and scholars regard Leonardo as the prime exemplar of the `` Universal Genius '' or `` Renaissance Man '' , an individual of `` unquenchable curiosity '' and `` feverishly inventive imagination '' . According to art historian Helen Gardner , the scope and depth of his interests were without precedent in recorded history , and `` his mind and personality seem to us superhuman , while the man himself mysterious and remote '' . Marco Rosci notes that while there is much speculation regarding his life and personality , his view of the world was logical rather than mysterious , and that the empirical methods he employed were unorthodox for his time .   Born out of wedlock to a notary , Piero da Vinci , and a peasant woman , Caterina , in Vinci in the region of Florence , Leonardo was educated in the studio of the renowned Florentine painter Andrea del Verrocchio . Much of his earlier working life was spent in the service of Ludovico il Moro in Milan . He later worked in Rome , Bologna and Venice , and he spent his last years in France at the home awarded to him by Francis I of France .   Leonardo was , and is , renowned primarily as a painter . Among his works , the Mona Lisa is the most famous and most parodied portrait and The Last Supper the most reproduced religious painting of all time . Leonardo 's drawing of the Vitruvian Man is also regarded as a cultural icon , being reproduced on items as varied as the euro coin , textbooks , and T-shirts . Perhaps fifteen of his paintings have survived.There are 15 significant artworks which are ascribed , either in whole or in large part , to Leonardo by most art historians . This number is made up principally of paintings on panel but includes a mural , a large drawing on paper and two works which are in the early stages of preparation . There are a number of other works that have also been variously attributed to Leonardo . Nevertheless , these few works , together with his notebooks , which contain drawings , scientific diagrams , and his thoughts on the nature of painting , compose a contribution to later generations of artists rivalled only by that of his contemporary , Michelangelo .   Leonardo is revered for his technological ingenuity . He conceptualised flying machines , a type of armoured fighting vehicle , concentrated solar power , an adding machine , and the double hull . Relatively few of his designs were constructed or even feasible during his lifetime , as the modern scientific approaches to metallurgy and engineering were only in their infancy during the Renaissance . Some of his smaller inventions , however , such as an automated bobbin winder and a machine for testing the tensile strength of wire , entered the world of manufacturing unheralded . A number of Leonardo 's most practical inventions are nowadays displayed as working models at the Museum of Vinci . He made substantial discoveries in anatomy , civil engineering , geology , optics , and hydrodynamics , but he did not publish his findings and they had no direct influence on later science .   Today , Leonardo is widely considered one of the most diversely talented individuals ever to have lived .


Brian Lynch wrote the screenplay for a 2011 American fantasy action comedy film called Puss in Boots.

Brian Lynch (writer) Brian Michael Lynch ( born June 21 , 1973 ) is an American film and comic book writer . Lynch was the initial writer and co-creator with Joss Whedon of Angel : After the Fall for IDW Publishing , and is best known for writing the screenplays for the films Puss in Boots and Minions . He has also written an unproduced film adaptation of The Sims .


Puss in Boots (2011 film) Puss in Boots is a 2011 American 3D computer-animated fantasy action comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures . It was directed by Chris Miller ( who directed Shrek the Third in 2007 ) and written by Brian Lynch and Tom Wheeler . It stars Antonio Banderas , Salma Hayek , Zach Galifianakis , Billy Bob Thornton and Amy Sedaris . The film was released in theaters on October 28 , 2011 in Digital 3D and IMAX 3D .   Although the character of Puss in Boots originated in a European fairy tale in 1697 , the film is a spin-off prequel to the Shrek franchise . It follows the character Puss in Boots on his adventures before his first appearance in Shrek 2 in 2004 . Accompanied by his friends , Humpty Dumpty and Kitty Softpaws , Puss is pitted against Jack and Jill , two murderous outlaws in ownership of legendary magical beans which lead to great fortune .   Puss in Boots grossed $ 554.9 million at the box office . It was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 84th Academy Awards . A television series , titled The Adventures of Puss in Boots , premiered on Netflix in 2015 . A sequel film , titled Puss in Boots 2 : Nine Lives & 40 Thieves , was scheduled to be released in 2018 , but it was removed from the schedule in early 2015 .


Life Is Peachy Life Is Peachy is the second studio album by the American nu metal band Korn , released on October 15 , 1996 through both Immortal Records and Epic Records . After the release of Korn 's 1994 self-titled debut album , the band asked Ross Robinson to produce and went back to Indigo Ranch to record . Life Is Peachy has fourteen tracks , excluding the hidden track after `` Kill You '' . Korn released three singles from Life Is Peachy : `` No Place to Hide '' , `` A.D.I.D.A.S. '' , and `` Good God '' . All three singles went on the UK Singles Chart . Life Is Peachy features such themes as drugs , social encounters , sex , and revenge . The album 's cover art was designed by Martin Riedl and its name is credited to Korn 's bassist Reginald `` Fieldy '' Arvizu .   Life Is Peachy was certified gold on January 8 , 1997 and was later certified platinum on December 9 , 1997 . Following the success of Korn 's 1994 self-titled debut album , Life Is Peachy was certified double platinum on November 10 , 1999 . Life Is Peachy debuted and peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and peaked at number one in New Zealand . In its first week of being released , the album sold 106,000 copies . Critical reception for Life Is Peachy was mainly mixed , with critics praising the album 's songwriting and sound quality .   Before the release of Life Is Peachy , Korn toured with many bands . Initially , Korn joined the Sick of It All Tour . Following the Sick of It All Tour , Korn joined the Danzig 4 Tour . Korn also toured with Megadeth , Fear Factory , and Flotsam and Jetsam . After the release of Life Is Peachy , Korn toured solo , and headlined and often sold out shows . Korn also toured in the Lollapalooza summer tour .


Dangerous Beauty is a biographical drama film from 1998.

Dangerous Beauty Dangerous Beauty is a 1998 American biographical drama film directed by Marshall Herskovitz and starring Catherine McCormack , Rufus Sewell , and Oliver Platt . Based on the non-fiction book The Honest Courtesan by Margaret Rosenthal , the film is about Veronica Franco , a courtesan in sixteenth-century Venice who becomes a hero to her city , but later becomes the target of an inquisition by the Church for witchcraft . The film features a supporting cast that includes Fred Ward , Naomi Watts , Moira Kelly and Jacqueline Bisset . The film was released as A Destiny of Her Own in some regions , and was retitled The Honest Courtesan ' for its UK video release .


Austria was defeated by Prussia at the battle of Königgrätz.

Austria Austria ( listen ) , is a federal republic and a landlocked country of over 8.7 million people in Central Europe . It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north , Hungary and Slovakia to the east , Slovenia and Italy to the south , and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west . The territory of Austria covers 83879 km2 . The terrain is highly mountainous , lying within the Alps ; only 32 % of the country is below 500 m , and its highest point is 3798 m . The majority of the population speaks local Bavarian dialects of German as their native language , and Austrian German in its standard form is the country 's official language . Other local official languages are Hungarian , Burgenland Croatian , and Slovene .   The origins of modern-day Austria date back to the time of the Habsburg dynasty , when the vast majority of the country was a part of the Holy Roman Empire . From the time of the Reformation , many northern German princes , resenting the authority of the Emperor , used Protestantism as a flag of rebellion . The Thirty Years War , the influence of the Kingdom of Sweden and Kingdom of France , the rise of the Kingdom of Prussia , and the Napoleonic invasions all weakened the power of the Emperor in the north of Germany , but in the south , and in non-German areas of the Empire , the Emperor and Catholicism maintained control . During the 17th and 18th centuries , Austria retained its position as one of the great powers of Europe and , in response to the coronation of Napoleon as the Emperor of the French , the Austrian Empire was officially proclaimed in 1804 . Following Napoleon 's defeat , Prussia emerged as Austria 's chief competitor for rule of a greater Germany . Austria 's defeat by Prussia at the Battle of Königgrätz , during the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 , cleared the way for Prussia to assert control over the rest of Germany . In 1867 , the empire was reformed into Austria-Hungary . After the defeat of France in the 1870-1 Franco-Prussian War , Austria was excluded from the new German Empire , although in the following decades , its politics , and its foreign policy , increasingly converged with those of the Prussian-led Empire . During the 1914 July Crisis that followed the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria on June 28 , Austria-Hungary , emboldened by a pledge of German support , on July 28 declared war on Serbia because that country had not fully complied with an Austrian ultimatum . Austria was thus the first to go to war in the July Crisis , which would ultimately escalate into World War I.   After the collapse of the Habsburg ( Austro-Hungarian ) Empire in 1918 at the end of World War I , Austria adopted and used the name the Republic of German-Austria ( Deutschösterreich ) , later changed to Österreich , in an attempt at union with Germany , but this was forbidden under the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye ( 1919 ) . The First Austrian Republic was established in 1919 . In 1938 Nazi Germany annexed Austria in the Anschluss . This lasted until the end of World War II in 1945 , after which Germany was occupied by the Allies and Austria 's former democratic constitution was restored . In 1955 , the Austrian State Treaty re-established Austria as a sovereign state , ending the occupation . In the same year , the Austrian Parliament created the Declaration of Neutrality which declared that the Second Austrian Republic would become permanently neutral .   Today , Austria is a parliamentary representative democracy comprising nine federal states . The capital and largest city , with a population exceeding 1.7 million , is Vienna . Other major urban areas of Austria include Graz , Linz , Salzburg and Innsbruck . Austria is one of the richest countries in the world , with a nominal per capita GDP of $ 43,724 . The country has developed a high standard of living and in 2014 was ranked 21st in the world for its Human Development Index . Austria has been a member of the United Nations since 1955 , joined the European Union in 1995 , and is a founder of the OECD . Austria also signed the Schengen Agreement in 1995 , and adopted the euro currency in 1999 .


The Great Gatsby The Great Gatsby is a 1925 novel written by American author F. Scott Fitzgerald that follows a cast of characters living in the fictional town of West Egg on prosperous Long Island in the summer of 1922 . The story primarily concerns the young and mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby and his quixotic passion and obsession for the beautiful former debutante Daisy Buchanan . Considered to be Fitzgerald 's magnum opus , The Great Gatsby explores themes of decadence , idealism , resistance to change , social upheaval , and excess , creating a portrait of the Jazz Age or the Roaring Twenties that has been described as a cautionary tale regarding the American Dream .   Fitzgerald -- inspired by the parties he had attended while visiting Long Island 's north shore -- began planning the novel in 1923 , desiring to produce , in his words , `` something new -- something extraordinary and beautiful and simple and intricately patterned . '' Progress was slow , with Fitzgerald completing his first draft following a move to the French Riviera in 1924 . His editor , Maxwell Perkins , felt the book was vague and persuaded the author to revise over the next winter . Fitzgerald was repeatedly ambivalent about the book 's title and he considered a variety of alternatives , including titles that referenced the Roman character Trimalchio ; the title he was last documented to have desired was Under the Red , White , and Blue .   First published by Scribner 's in April 1925 , The Great Gatsby received mixed reviews and sold poorly ; in its first year , the book sold only 20,000 copies . Fitzgerald died in 1940 , believing himself to be a failure and his work forgotten . However , the novel experienced a revival during World , and became a part of American high school curricula and numerous stage and film adaptations in the following decades . Today , The Great Gatsby is widely considered to be a literary classic and a contender for the title `` Great American Novel . '' In 1998 , the Modern Library editorial board voted it the 20th century 's best American novel and second best English-language novel of the same time period .


Will Ferrell worked on only Lord of the Rings.

Will Ferrell John William Ferrell ( -LSB- ˈfɛrəl -RSB- born July 16 , 1967 ) is an American actor , comedian , producer , and writer . He first established himself in the mid-1990s as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live , and has subsequently starred in comedy films such as Anchorman : The Legend of Ron Burgundy ( 2004 ) , Talladega Nights ( 2006 ) , Step Brothers ( 2008 ) , The Other Guys ( 2010 ) and Anchorman 2 : The Legend Continues ( 2013 ) , all but one of which he co-wrote with his comedy partner Adam McKay . The two also founded the comedy website Funny or Die in 2007 . Other films roles include Elf , Old School ( both 2003 ) , Blades of Glory ( 2007 ) , and the animated films Megamind ( 2010 ) and The Lego Movie ( 2014 ) .   Ferrell is considered a member of the `` Frat Pack '' , a generation of leading Hollywood comic actors who emerged in the late 1990s and the 2000s , including Jack Black , Ben Stiller , Steve Carell , Vince Vaughn , and brothers Owen and Luke Wilson . He received an Emmy Award nomination for his work on Saturday Night Live , and two Golden Globe Award nominations for The Producers ( 2005 ) and Stranger than Fiction ( 2006 ) . He was also named the best comedian of 2015 in the British GQ Men of the Year awards . Ferrell received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on March 26 , 2015 .


The full name of J. K. Rowling is Jan Rake.

J. K. Rowling Joanne Rowling , ( -LSB- ˈrəʊlɪŋ -RSB- born 31 July 1965 ) , pen names J. K. Rowling and Robert Galbraith , is a British novelist , screenwriter and film producer best known as the author of the Harry Potter fantasy series . The books have gained worldwide attention , won multiple awards , and sold more than 400 million copies . They have become the best-selling book series in history and been the basis for a series of films over which Rowling had overall approval on the scripts and maintained creative control by serving as a producer on the final instalment .   Born in Yate , Gloucestershire , England , Rowling was working as a researcher and bilingual secretary for Amnesty International when she conceived the idea for the Harry Potter series while on a delayed train from Manchester to London in 1990 . The seven-year period that followed saw the death of her mother , birth of her first child , divorce from her first husband and relative poverty until she finished the first novel in the series , Harry Potter and the Philosopher 's Stone , in 1997 . There were six sequels , the last , Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows , in 2007 . Since then , Rowling has written four books for adult readers : The Casual Vacancy ( 2012 ) and -- under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith -- the crime fiction novels The Cuckoo 's Calling ( 2013 ) , The Silkworm ( 2014 ) and Career of Evil ( 2015 ) .   Rowling has lived a `` rags to riches '' life story , in which she progressed from living on state benefits to multi-millionaire status within five years . She is the United Kingdom 's best-selling living author , with sales in excess of # 238M . The 2016 Sunday Times Rich List estimated Rowling 's fortune at # 600 million , ranking her as the joint 197th richest person in the UK . Time magazine named her as a runner-up for its 2007 Person of the Year , noting the social , moral , and political inspiration she has given her fans . In October 2010 , Rowling was named the `` Most Influential Woman in Britain '' by leading magazine editors . She has supported charities including Comic Relief , One Parent Families , Multiple Sclerosis Society of Great Britain and Lumos ( formerly the Children 's High Level Group ) .


Cowboy was only performed during a movie.

Cowboy (Kid Rock song) `` Cowboy '' is a single by Kid Rock from his album Devil Without a Cause . The song 's rapping style has been adapted by country artists like Toby Keith , Trace Adkins and Blake Shelton . Many musicians have been influenced and inspired by this song , who include Jason Aldean , Big & Rich , Eric Church , Colt Ford , Florida Georgia Line , Brantley Gilbert and Luke Bryan . Originally referred to as the genre `` Hick Hop '' , it has gone on to be labeled as `` Bro Country '' . His 2008 single `` All Summer Long '' helped push along the bro country genre more so then `` Cowboy '' . Both have themes of partying , drinking , boats , cars , and girls . The song also helped influence a more prominent hip hop from the south , drawling on country music in Bubba Sparks , Rehab , The Lacs and Moonshine Bandits . Kid Rock actually did this first on the song `` Desperate-Rado '' on his independent release The Polyfuze Method in 1993 , but `` Cowboy '' broke into the mainstream .   Kid Rock describes the song as `` Lynyrd Skynyrd meets Run-D.M.C . '' . The song uses dobro , slide , banjo and a ragtime piano , which was actually a sample of The Doors ' song `` L.A. Woman '' . The song `` Cowboy '' was originally rejected by Atlantic Records , after Kid Rock told them it was the best song he had written to that point .   The song is about how Kid Rock had foreseen his move to Hollywood to become a star . `` Cowboy '' peaked at number 82 on the Billboard Hot 100 , 34 on The Top 40 , 5 on Mainstream Rock Chart , and 10 on the Modern Rock charts . The song is used as the walk-in music for UFC fighter Donald Cerrone . This song was used in the first promotional commercial for WrestleMania XXV . An instrumental remake of this song was used by Jeff Jarrett in WCW . `` Cowboy '' appeared in the movies Shanghai Noon , Ready To Rumble , Serving Sara , Matchstick Men and Coyote Ugly .   In 2000 , Kid Rock and The Neptunes made a rap single version of the song . There was also a live version released on the `` American Bad Ass '' single in 2000 . The song was performed during the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show in 2004 . A live version was released on 2006 's Live Trucker with a bluesy into given to it .   Porn star Ron Jeremy and actor Gary Coleman made cameos in the music video , which was a spoof on Smokey and the Bandit . Joe C and Gary Coleman dueled while Ron Jeremy pretended to do the piano solo .


The Incredible Hulk was number one at the box office.

The Incredible Hulk (film) The Incredible Hulk is a 2008 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character the Hulk , produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Universal Pictures . It is the second film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe ( MCU ) . The film was directed by Louis Leterrier , with a screenplay by Zak Penn. . It stars Edward Norton , Liv Tyler , Tim Roth , Tim Blake Nelson , Ty Burrell , and William Hurt . In The Incredible Hulk , a new backstory is established where Bruce Banner becomes the Hulk as an unwitting pawn in a military scheme to reinvigorate the supersoldier program through gamma radiation . On the run , he attempts to cure himself of the Hulk before he is captured by General Thaddeus Ross , but his worst fears are realized when power-hungry soldier Emil Blonsky becomes a similar , but more bestial creature .   After the mixed reception to the 2003 film Hulk , Marvel Studios reacquired the rights to the character . Leterrier , who had expressed interest in directing Iron Man , was brought onboard and Penn began work on a loose sequel that would be much closer to the comics and the 1978 television series of the same name . In April 2007 , Norton was hired to portray Banner and to rewrite Penn 's screenplay in order to distance itself from the 2003 film and establish its own identity , although he would go uncredited for his writing . Filming mostly took place in Toronto , Ontario , from July to November 2007 . Over 700 visual effects shots were created in post-production using a combination of motion capture and computer-generated imagery to complete the film .   The Incredible Hulk premiered on June 8 , 2008 at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City , California and was released in theaters on June 13 , 2008 , receiving generally favorable reviews by critics upon release . Critical praise went to the improved visuals , action sequences , and the portrayal of the title character . The film was number one at the box office , grossing over $ 263 million worldwide . Norton was set to reprise the role of Banner in The Avengers and any other MCU installment featuring the character , but he was ultimately replaced by Mark Ruffalo , who has signed on to portray the character in all potential sequels .


Neil Burger wrote and directed a film called The Illusionist (2006 film).

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 .


Busy Being Fabulous was on Long Road out of Eden.

Busy Being Fabulous `` Busy Being Fabulous '' is the second single by the American rock band Eagles from their 2007 album Long Road out of Eden . Released in January 2008 , it is their third Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts .


Long Road Out of Eden Long Road Out of Eden is the seventh studio album by American rock band the Eagles , released in 2007 on Lost Highway Records . Nearly six years in production , it is the band 's first studio album since 1979 's The Long Run . In between that time the band recorded four original studio tracks for the live album Hell Freezes Over ( 1994 ) , `` Hole in the World '' for The Very Best Of ( 2003 ) and the Joe Walsh-penned `` One Day at a Time '' for the Farewell 1 Tour-Live from Melbourne DVD ( 2005 ) , which Walsh later re-recorded for his 2012 album Analog Man . It is also the band 's only album released following the dismissal of Don Felder in 2001 .   The album produced two singles on the Hot Country Songs charts : a cover of J.D. Souther 's `` How Long '' and `` Busy Being Fabulous '' , both of which were Top 30 hits on the country charts as well as Top 20 hits on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks charts . The album produced five straight hits on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks charts with `` How Long '' , `` Busy Being Fabulous '' , `` No More Cloudy Days '' , `` What Do I Do With My Heart '' , and `` I Do n't Want to Hear Anymore '' .   The album debuted at # 1 in the U.S. and won the band two Grammy awards for `` How Long '' and the instrumental `` I Dreamed There Was No War '' . The album became the band 's sixth # 1 album and was the highest selling album of the year . It has since sold 3.5 million copies in the U.S. alone . Being a double album with length exceeding 90 minutes , the album was certified 7x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipments of 7 million discs .


New Orleans New Orleans ( -LSB- nuː_ˈɔːrlᵻnz , _ - ˈɔːrli.ənz , _ - ɔːrˈliːnz -RSB- , or -LSB- ˈnɔːrlᵻnz -RSB- La Nouvelle-Orléans -LSB- la nuvɛlɔʁleɑ̃ -RSB- ) is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana . The population of the city was 343,829 as of the 2010 U.S. Census . The New Orleans metropolitan area ( New Orleans -- Metairie -- Kenner Metropolitan Statistical Area ) had a population of 1,167,764 in 2010 and was the 46th largest in the United States . The New Orleans -- Metairie -- Bogalusa Combined Statistical Area , a larger trading area , had a 2010 population of 1,452,502 .   It is well known for its distinct French and Spanish Creole architecture , as well as its cross-cultural and multilingual heritage . New Orleans is also famous for its cuisine , music ( particularly as the birthplace of jazz ) , and its annual celebrations and festivals , most notably Mardi Gras , dating to French colonial times . The city is often referred to as the `` most unique '' in the United States .   New Orleans is located in southeastern Louisiana , straddling the Mississippi River . The city and Orleans Parish ( paroisse d'Orléans ) are coterminous . The city and parish are bounded by the parishes of St. Tammany to the north , St. Bernard to the east , Plaquemines to the south , and Jefferson to the south and west . Lake Pontchartrain , part of which is included in the city limits , lies to the north and Lake Borgne lies to the east .   Before Hurricane Katrina , Orleans Parish was the most populous parish in Louisiana . As of 2015 , it ranks third in population , trailing neighboring Jefferson Parish , and East Baton Rouge Parish .