The United States of Leland The United States of Leland is a 2003 American drama film written and directed by Matthew Ryan Hoge that follows a meek teenage boy , the eponymous Leland , who has inexplicably committed a shocking murder . In the wake of the killing , his teacher in prison tries to understand the senseless crime , while the families of the victim and the perpetrator struggle to cope with the aftermath .


Jessica Lange Jessica Phyllis Lange ( -LSB- læŋ -RSB- born April 20 , 1949 ) is an American actress who has received worldwide acclaim for her work in film , theater , and television . The recipient of several awards , including two Academy Awards , one Tony Award , three Emmy Awards , five Golden Globe Awards , one Screen Actors Guild Award , and three Dorian Awards ; in 1998 , Entertainment Weekly listed Lange among the 25 Greatest Actresses of the 1990s . In 2016 , Lange became the twenty-second thespian in history to achieve the Triple Crown of Acting .   Lange was discovered by producer Dino De Laurentiis while modeling part-time for the Wilhelmina modelling agency . She made her professional film debut in his 1976 remake of the 1933 action-adventure classic King Kong , for which she won her first Golden Globe Award , for New Star of the Year . In 1982 , she became the first performer in 40 years to receive two Oscar nominations within the same year ; she won her second Golden Globe Award and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as a soap opera star in Tootsie , and was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of the troubled actress Frances Farmer , in Frances . Lange received three more nominations before garnering a sixth Oscar nomination and winning , along with her third Golden Globe Award , the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance as a manic depressive housewife in Blue Sky ( 1994 ) . In 1995 , Lange became the second actress in Oscar history , after Meryl Streep , to win Best Actress after winning Best Supporting Actress ; an achievement that was only repeated again after nearly 20 years by Cate Blanchett in 2014 .   In 2010 , she won her first Primetime Emmy Award for her portrayal of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis ' famed aunt , Big Edie , in HBO 's Grey Gardens ( 2009 ) . Between 2011 and 2014 , she won her first Screen Actors Guild Award , fifth Golden Globe Award , and second and third Emmy Awards for her performances in the first and third seasons of FX 's horror anthology series American Horror Story ( 2011 -- 2015 ) . In 2016 , Lange won her first Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play , an Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Lead Actress in a Play and a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play for her critically acclaimed performance in the Broadway revival of Long Day 's Journey into Night . During 2017 , Lange portrayed film legend Joan Crawford in the first season of the television series Feud , for which she received universal critical acclaim .   In addition to acting , Lange is a photographer with three published works . She has also been a foster parent and currently holds a Goodwill Ambassador position for UNICEF , specializing in HIV/AIDS in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Russia .


Glee was nominated to receive the Emmy for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics.

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


It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is an American television sitcom.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia It 's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is an American television black comedy sitcom that premiered on FX on August 4 , 2005 . It moved to FXX beginning with the ninth season , and has remained there since . It was created by Rob McElhenney , who developed it with Glenn Howerton . It is executive produced and primarily written by McElhenney , Howerton , and Charlie Day , all of whom star alongside Kaitlin Olson and Danny DeVito . The series follows the exploits of `` The Gang '' , a group of self-centered friends who run the Irish bar Paddy 's Pub in South Philadelphia .   The series was renewed for a twelfth season that premiered on January 4 , 2017 . On April 1 , 2016 , the series was renewed for a thirteenth and fourteenth season , which will tie it with The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet as the longest running live-action sitcom in American TV history .


The Voice (U.S. TV series) The Voice is an American reality television singing competition broadcast on NBC . Based on the original The Voice of Holland , the concept of the series is to find currently unsigned singing talent ( solo or duets , professional and amateur ) contested by aspiring singers , age 13 or over , drawn from public auditions . The winner is determined by television viewers voting by telephone , Internet , SMS text , and iTunes Store purchases of the audio-recorded artists ' vocal performances . They receive US$ 100,000 and a record deal with Universal Music Group for winning the competition . The winners of the twelve seasons have been : Javier Colon , Jermaine Paul , Cassadee Pope , Danielle Bradbery , Tessanne Chin , Josh Kaufman , Craig Wayne Boyd , Sawyer Fredericks , Jordan Smith , Alisan Porter , Sundance Head , and Chris Blue .   The series employs a panel of four coaches who critique the artists ' performances and guide their teams of selected artists through the remainder of the season . They also compete to ensure that their act wins the competition , thus making them the winning coach . Members of the coaching panel include Adam Levine , Blake Shelton , Christina Aguilera ( seasons 1 -- 3 , 5 , 8 , 10 ) , CeeLo Green ( seasons 1 -- 3 , 5 ) , Shakira ( season 4 , 6 ) , Usher ( season 4 , 6 ) , Gwen Stefani ( season 7 , 9 , 12 ) , Pharrell Williams ( seasons 7 -- 10 ) , Miley Cyrus ( season 11 ) , and Alicia Keys ( seasons 11 -- 12 ) .   The Voice began airing on April 26 , 2011 , as a spring TV season program . The show proved to be a hit for NBC and was subsequently expanded into the fall cycle when season three premiered on September 10 , 2012 . The series premiered its twelfth season on February 27 , 2017 . On October 18 , 2016 , NBC renewed the series through its thirteenth season . On May 10 , 2017 , NBC renewed the series for a fourteenth series , along with announcing Jennifer Hudson as a new coach in the thirteenth season . The following day , it was announced that Kelly Clarkson would be a new coach in the fourteenth season , sitting alongside Adam Levine , Blake Shelton , and Jennifer Hudson .


Michael Phelps holds three highly contested world records.

Michael Phelps Michael Fred Phelps II ( born June 30 , 1985 ) is an American former competitive swimmer and the most decorated Olympian of all time , with a total of 28 medals . Phelps also holds the all-time records for Olympic gold medals ( 23 ) , Olympic gold medals in individual events ( 13 ) , and Olympic medals in individual events ( 16 ) . In winning eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Games , Phelps broke fellow American swimmer Mark Spitz 's 1972 record of seven first-place finishes at any single Olympic Games . At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London , Phelps won four gold and two silver medals , and at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro , he won five gold medals and one silver . This made him the most successful athlete of the Games for the fourth Olympics in a row .   Phelps is the long course world record holder in the 100 meter butterfly , 200 meter butterfly , and 400 meter individual medley as well as the former long course world record holder in the 200 meter freestyle and 200 meter individual medley . He has won 83 medals in major international long course competition , of which 66 were gold , 14 silver , and 3 bronze , spanning the Olympics , the World , and the Pan Pacific Championships . Phelps 's international titles and record-breaking performances have earned him the World Swimmer of the Year Award eight times and American Swimmer of the Year Award eleven times , as well as the FINA Swimmer of the Year Award in 2012 and 2016 . His unprecedented Olympic success in 2008 earned Phelps Sports Illustrated magazine 's Sportsman of the Year award .   After the 2008 Summer Olympics , Phelps started the Michael Phelps Foundation , which focuses on growing the sport of swimming and promoting healthier lifestyles . Phelps retired following the 2012 Olympics , but in April 2014 he made a comeback . At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro , his fifth Olympics , he won five golds and one silver . Phelps was chosen to be a captain of the 2016 US Olympic team , and was also voted by his team to be the flag bearer of the United States at the 2016 Summer Olympics Parade of Nations .


Jordan Spence plays for a football club in Norfolk.

Jordan Spence Jordan James Spence ( born 24 May 1990 ) is an English footballer who plays for Ipswich Town . Predominantly as a right-back , Spence can also operate as a centre-back . He has represented and captained England at various youth levels . He has previously played for West Ham United , Leyton Orient , Scunthorpe United , Bristol City , Sheffield Wednesday and Milton Keynes Dons .


The city of Machu Picchu was part of the largest empire in pre-columbian America.

Inca Empire The Inca Empire ( Quechua : Tawantinsuyu , `` The Four Regions '' ) , also known as the Incan Empire and the Inka Empire , was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America , and possibly the largest empire in the world in the early 16th century . The administrative , political and military center of the empire was located in Cusco in modern-day Peru . The Inca civilization arose from the highlands of Peru sometime in the early 13th century . Its last stronghold was conquered by the Spanish in 1572 .   From 1438 to 1533 , the Incas incorporated a large portion of western South America , centered on the Andean Mountains , using conquest and peaceful assimilation , among other methods . At its largest , the empire joined Peru , large parts of modern Ecuador , western and south central Bolivia , northwest Argentina , north and central Chile and a small part of southern Colombia into a state comparable to the historical empires of Eurasia . Its official language was Quechua . Many local forms of worship persisted in the empire , most of them concerning local sacred Huacas , but the Inca leadership encouraged the worship of Inti -- their sun god -- and imposed its sovereignty above other cults such as that of Pachamama . The Incas considered their king , the Sapa Inca , to be the `` son of the sun . ''   The Inca Empire was unique in that it lacked many features associated with civilization in the Old World . In the words of one scholar , `` The Incas lacked the use of wheeled vehicles . They lacked animals to ride and draft animals that could pull wagons and plows ... -LSB- They -RSB- lacked the knowledge of iron and steel ... Above all , they lacked a system of writing ... Despite these supposed handicaps , the Incas were still able to construct one of the greatest imperial states in human history '' .   The Incan economy has been described as `` feudal , slave , socialist ( here one may choose between socialist paradise or socialist tyranny ) . ''  The economy functioned largely without money and without markets . Instead , exchange of goods and services was based on reciprocity between individuals and among individuals , groups , and Inca rulers . `` Taxes '' consisted of a labor obligation of a person to the Empire . The Inca rulers ( who theoretically owned all the means of production ) reciprocated by granting access to land and goods and providing food and drink in celebratory feasts for their subjects .


Machu Picchu Machu Picchu ( -LSB- ˈmatʃu ˈpitʃu -RSB- ) ( Machu Pikchu -LSB- ˈmɑtʃu ˈpixtʃu -RSB- ) is a 15th-century Inca citadel situated on a mountain ridge 2430 m above sea level . It is located in the Cusco Region , Urubamba Province , Machupicchu District in Peru , above the Sacred Valley , which is 80 km northwest of Cuzco and through which the Urubamba River flows .   Most archaeologists believe that Machu Picchu was built as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti ( 1438 -- 1472 ) . Often mistakenly referred to as the `` Lost City of the Incas '' ( a title more accurately applied to Vilcabamba ) , it is the most familiar icon of Inca civilization . The Incas built the estate around 1450 but abandoned it a century later at the time of the Spanish Conquest . Although known locally , it was not known to the Spanish during the colonial period and remained unknown to the outside world until American historian Hiram Bingham brought it to international attention in 1911 .   Machu Picchu was built in the classical Inca style , with polished dry-stone walls . Its three primary structures are the Inti Watana , the Temple of the Sun , and the Room of the Three Windows . Most of the outlying buildings have been reconstructed in order to give tourists a better idea of how they originally appeared . By 1976 , thirty percent of Machu Picchu had been restored and restoration continues .   Machu Picchu was declared a Peruvian Historic Sanctuary in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 . In 2007 , Machu Picchu was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in a worldwide Internet poll .


Maria Sharapova is a United States resident.

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


Mexico City is the capital of a federal republic.

Mexico Mexico ( México , -LSB- ˈme.xi.ko -RSB- , modern Nahuatl ) , officially the United Mexican States ( -LSB- Estados Unidos Mexicanos , links = no -RSB- , ) , is a federal republic in the southern portion of North America . It is bordered to the north by the United States ; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean ; to the southeast by Guatemala , Belize , and the Caribbean Sea ; and to the east by the Gulf of Mexico . Covering almost two million square kilometers ( over 760,000 sq mi ) , Mexico is the sixth largest country in the Americas by total area and the 13th largest independent nation in the world . With an estimated population of over 120 million , it is the eleventh most populous country and the most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world while being the second most populous country in Latin America . Mexico is a federation comprising 31 states and a federal district that is also its capital and most populous city . Other metropolises include Guadalajara , Monterrey , Puebla , Toluca , Tijuana and León .   Pre-Columbian Mexico was home to many advanced Mesoamerican civilizations , such as the Olmec , Toltec , Teotihuacan , Zapotec , Maya and Aztec before first contact with Europeans . In 1521 , the Spanish Empire conquered and colonized the territory from its base in Mexico-Tenochtitlan , which was administered as the viceroyalty of New Spain . Three centuries later , this territory became Mexico following recognition in 1821 after the colony 's Mexican War of Independence . The tumultuous post-independence period was characterized by economic instability and many political changes . The Mexican -- American War ( 1846 -- 48 ) led to the territorial cession of the extensive northern territories to the United States . The Pastry War , the Franco-Mexican War , a civil war , two empires and a domestic dictatorship occurred through the 19th century . The dictatorship was overthrown in the Mexican Revolution of 1910 , which culminated with the promulgation of the 1917 Constitution and the emergence of the country 's current political system .   Mexico has the fifteenth largest nominal GDP and the eleventh largest by purchasing power parity . The Mexican economy is strongly linked to those of its North American Free Trade Agreement ( NAFTA ) partners , especially the United States . Mexico was the first Latin American member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ( OECD ) , joining in 1994 . It is classified as an upper-middle income country by the World Bank and a newly industrialized country by several analysts . By 2050 , Mexico could become the world 's fifth or seventh largest economy . The country is considered both a regional power and middle power , and is often identified as an emerging global power . Due to its rich culture and history , Mexico ranks first in the Americas and seventh in the world by number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites . Mexico is a megadiverse country , ranking fourth in the world by biodiversity . In 2016 it was the eighth most visited country in the world , with 35 million international arrivals . Mexico is a member of the United Nations , the World Trade Organization , the G8 +5 , the G20 , the Uniting for Consensus and the Pacific Alliance .


Mexico City Mexico City , or the City of Mexico ( Ciudad de México , -LSB- sjuˈða ðe ˈmexiko -RSB- ; abbreviated as `` CDMX '' ) , is the capital and most populous city of Mexico . As an `` alpha '' global city , Mexico City is one of the most important financial centers in the Americas . It is located in the Valley of Mexico ( Valle de México ) , a large valley in the high plateaus at the center of Mexico , at an altitude of 2240 m . The city consists of sixteen municipalities ( previously called boroughs ) .   The 2009 estimated population for the city proper was approximately 8.84 million people , with a land area of 1485 km2 . According to the most recent definition agreed upon by the federal and state governments , the Greater Mexico City population is 21.2 million people , making it the second-largest metropolitan area of the western hemisphere , behind New York City , the tenth-largest agglomeration , and the largest Spanish-speaking city in the world .   The Greater Mexico City has a gross domestic product ( GDP ) of US$ 411 billion in 2011 , making Mexico City urban agglomeration one of the economically largest metropolitan areas in the world . The city was responsible for generating 15.8 % of Mexico 's Gross Domestic Product and the metropolitan area accounted for about 22 % of total national GDP . As a stand-alone country , in 2013 , Mexico City would be the fifth-largest economy in Latin America -- five times as large as Costa Rica 's and about the same size as Peru 's .   Mexico 's capital is both the oldest capital city in the Americas and one of two founded by Amerindians ( Native Americans ) , the other being Quito . The city was originally built on an island of Lake Texcoco by the Aztecs in 1325 as Tenochtitlan , which was almost completely destroyed in the 1521 siege of Tenochtitlan , and subsequently redesigned and rebuilt in accordance with the Spanish urban standards . In 1524 , the municipality of Mexico City was established , known as México Tenochtitlán , and as of 1585 it was officially known as Ciudad de México ( Mexico City ) . Mexico City served as the political , administrative and financial center of a major part of the Spanish colonial empire . After independence from Spain was achieved , the federal district was created in 1824 .   After years of demanding greater political autonomy , residents were given the right to directly elect a Head of Government and the representatives of the unicameral Legislative Assembly by popular vote in 1997 . Ever since , the left-wing Party of the Democratic Revolution ( PRD ) has controlled both of them . In recent years , the local government has passed a wave of liberal policies , such as abortion on request , a limited form of euthanasia , no-fault divorce , and same-sex marriage . On January 29 , 2016 , it ceased to be called the Federal District ( Spanish : Distrito Federal or D.F. ) and is now in transition to become the country 's 32nd federal entity , giving it a level of autonomy comparable to that of a state . Because of a clause in the Mexican Constitution , however , as the seat of the powers of the federation , it can never become a state , lest the capital of the country be relocated elsewhere .


Ellen DeGeneres had a stand-up career that started in the early 1980s.

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 .


Jack Paar Jack Harold Paar ( May 1 , 1918 -- January 27 , 2004 ) was an American author , radio and television comedian and talk show host , best known for his stint as host of The Tonight Show from 1957 to 1962 . Time magazine 's obituary of him noted that : `` His fans would remember him as the fellow who split talk show history into two eras : Before Paar and Below Paar . ''


Spider Spiders ( order Araneae ) are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom . They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other orders of organisms . Spiders are found worldwide on every continent except for Antarctica , and have become established in nearly every habitat with the exceptions of air and sea colonization . , at least 45,700 spider species , and 113 families have been recorded by taxonomists . However , there has been dissension within the scientific community as to how all these families should be classified , as evidenced by the over 20 different classifications that have been proposed since 1900 .   Anatomically , spiders differ from other arthropods in that the usual body segments are fused into two tagmata , the cephalothorax and abdomen , and joined by a small , cylindrical pedicel . Unlike insects , spiders do not have antennae . In all except the most primitive group , the Mesothelae , spiders have the most centralized nervous systems of all arthropods , as all their ganglia are fused into one mass in the cephalothorax . Unlike most arthropods , spiders have no extensor muscles in their limbs and instead extend them by hydraulic pressure .   Their abdomens bear appendages that have been modified into spinnerets that extrude silk from up to six types of glands . Spider webs vary widely in size , shape and the amount of sticky thread used . It now appears that the spiral orb web may be one of the earliest forms , and spiders that produce tangled cobwebs are more abundant and diverse than orb-web spiders . Spider-like arachnids with silk-producing spigots appeared in the Devonian period about , but these animals apparently lacked spinnerets . True spiders have been found in Carboniferous rocks from , and are very similar to the most primitive surviving suborder , the Mesothelae . The main groups of modern spiders , Mygalomorphae and Araneomorphae , first appeared in the Triassic period , before .   A herbivorous species , Bagheera kiplingi , was described in 2008 , but all other known species are predators , mostly preying on insects and on other spiders , although a few large species also take birds and lizards . It is estimated that the world 's 25 million tons of spiders kill 400 -- 800 million tons of prey per year . Spiders use a wide range of strategies to capture prey : trapping it in sticky webs , lassoing it with sticky bolas , mimicking the prey to avoid detection , or running it down . Most detect prey mainly by sensing vibrations , but the active hunters have acute vision , and hunters of the genus Portia show signs of intelligence in their choice of tactics and ability to develop new ones . Spiders ' guts are too narrow to take solids , and they liquefy their food by flooding it with digestive enzymes . They also grind food with the bases of their pedipalps , as arachnids do not have the mandibles that crustaceans and insects have .   Male spiders identify themselves by a variety of complex courtship rituals to avoid being eaten by the females . Males of most species survive a few matings , limited mainly by their short life spans . Females weave silk egg-cases , each of which may contain hundreds of eggs . Females of many species care for their young , for example by carrying them around or by sharing food with them . A minority of species are social , building communal webs that may house anywhere from a few to 50,000 individuals . Social behavior ranges from precarious toleration , as in the widow spiders , to co-operative hunting and food-sharing . Although most spiders live for at most two years , tarantulas and other mygalomorph spiders can live up to 25 years in captivity .   While the venom of a few species is dangerous to humans , scientists are now researching the use of spider venom in medicine and as non-polluting pesticides . Spider silk provides a combination of lightness , strength and elasticity that is superior to that of synthetic materials , and spider silk genes have been inserted into mammals and plants to see if these can be used as silk factories . As a result of their wide range of behaviors , spiders have become common symbols in art and mythology symbolizing various combinations of patience , cruelty and creative powers . An abnormal fear of spiders is called arachnophobia .


Chris Stapleton Christopher Alvin Stapleton ( born April 15 , 1978 ) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist . He is an established songwriter with six country number-one songs including the five-week number-one `` Never Wanted Nothing More '' recorded by Kenny Chesney , `` Love 's Gon na Make It Alright '' recorded by George Strait , and `` Come Back Song '' recorded by Darius Rucker . Over 150 of Stapleton 's songs have appeared on albums by such artists as Adele , Luke Bryan , Tim McGraw , Brad Paisley and Dierks Bentley . Among other artists , he has co-written with Vince Gill , Peter Frampton and Sheryl Crow .   After serving as the frontman of bluegrass group The SteelDrivers from 2008 to 2010 , Stapleton released his debut studio album Traveller in 2015 , which reached number one on the US Billboard 200 and was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America ( RIAA ) . Among several accolades , he won the Country Music Association Awards and the Academy of Country Music Awards for Album of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year , and the Grammy Award for Best Country Album and Best Country Solo Performance at the 58th annual ceremony . His second studio album , From A Room : Volume 1 , was released on May 5 , 2017 . Stapleton 's music styles include Southern rock and bluegrass .


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


Brock Lesnar Brock Edward Lesnar ( -LSB- ˈlɛznər -RSB- born July 12 , 1977 ) is an American professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist , amateur wrestler , and professional American football player . He is signed with WWE , where he performs on the Raw brand and is the current WWE Universal Champion in his first reign .   After his successful amateur wrestling career at Bismarck State College and the University of Minnesota , Lesnar signed with WWE ( then the World Wrestling Federation ) in 2000 . He was assigned to its developmental promotion Ohio Valley Wrestling ( OVW ) , where he was a three-time OVW Southern Tag Team Champion with Shelton Benjamin . After debuting on WWE 's main roster in 2002 , he won the WWE Championship on three separate occasions with victories over The Rock and Kurt Angle ( twice ) . Lesnar won the then WWE Undisputed Championship five months after his main roster debut at the age of 25 , becoming the youngest champion in the title 's history . He was also the 2002 King of the Ring and the 2003 Royal Rumble winner , making him the youngest King of the Ring and Royal Rumble winner as well . Following his match with Goldberg at WrestleMania XX , Lesnar left the WWE and pursued a career in the National Football League ( NFL ) . He was named a defensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings , but was cut prior to the start of the 2004 -- 2005 season . In 2005 , Lesnar returned to professional wrestling and signed with New Japan Pro-Wrestling ( NJPW ) , where he won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in his first match . After a contractual dispute with NJPW , he also wrestled as IWGP Heavyweight Champion in the Inoki Genome Federation ( IGF ) .   In 2006 , Lesnar pursued a career in mixed martial arts ( MMA ) , as he signed with Hero 's and won his first fight , against Min-Soo Kim , in June 2007 . He then signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship ( UFC ) the following October . Lesnar lost in his UFC debut against Frank Mir and then won his second fight against Heath Herring . In November 2008 , Lesnar defeated Randy Couture to become the UFC Heavyweight Champion . Shortly after a successful title defense in a rematch with Mir , Lesnar was sidelined due to diverticulitis . He would return at UFC 116 to defeat Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Shane Carwin and unify the heavyweight championships , becoming the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion in the process . Lesnar then lost the championship to Cain Velasquez at UFC 121 . In 2011 , he was once again sidelined due to diverticulitis and underwent surgery . Lesnar returned at UFC 141 in December , losing to Alistair Overeem and promptly retiring from MMA . Lesnar was a box office sensation in UFC , as he took part in a some of the best selling pay-per-view events in UFC history , including UFC 100 and UFC 116 .   In April 2012 , Lesnar once again returned to professional wrestling , rejoining WWE after an eight-year hiatus . Two years later , at WrestleMania XXX , Lesnar defeated The Undertaker to end his undefeated streak at WrestleMania . He achieved world champion status twice since his return , having won the then WWE World Heavyweight Championship in 2014 and the WWE Universal Championship in 2017 . Lesnar has been managed by Paul Heyman throughout the majority of his professional wrestling career .   In June 2016 at UFC 199 , the UFC announced that Lesnar would return to MMA to fight at UFC 200 . His opponent was later revealed to be Mark Hunt . Lesnar would defeat Hunt via unanimous decision . However , after Lesnar tested positive for clomiphene , a banned substance on the UFC 's anti-doping policy , he was suspended from competing in the UFC by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for one year , fined $ 250,000 and his victory over Hunt was overturned to a no-contest . Lesnar then retired from MMA for a second time in 2017 .   Lesnar is a five-time world champion in WWE , a one-time heavyweight champion in the UFC , a one-time heavyweight champion in NJPW , and a one-time heavyweight wrestling champion in the NCAA , the only person in history to win a championship in each of those organizations . He has headlined numerous pay-per-view events for both the WWE and UFC , including WrestleMania XIX , WrestleMania 31 , UFC 100 and UFC 116 . In 2015 , an ESPN.com article referred to Lesnar as `` the most accomplished athlete in professional wrestling history '' .


Ruth Negga played the role of Mildred Loving.

Ruth Negga Ruth Negga ( -LSB- ˈneɪgə -RSB- born 7 January 1982 ) is an Ethiopian born Irish actress , who has appeared in the films Capital Letters ( 2004 ) ( also released as Trafficked in some countries ) , Isolation ( 2005 ) , Breakfast on Pluto ( 2005 ) and Warcraft ( 2016 ) . She has also played roles in television , such as in the BBC 's mini-series Criminal Justice , RTÉ 's Love/Hate , E4 's Misfits , and ABC 's Marvel 's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. . In 2016 , she began a starring role as Tulip O'Hare in AMC 's Preacher .   For her portrayal of Mildred Loving in Loving ( 2016 ) , Negga was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress , Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama , Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead and Critics ' Choice Movie Award for Best Actress , as well as the BAFTA Rising Star Award .


Andy Warhol refused to be the founder of any magazine.

Andy Warhol Andy Warhol ( -LSB- ˈwɔrhɒl -RSB- born Andrew Warhola ; August 6 , 1928 -- February 22 , 1987 ) was an American artist , director and producer who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art . His works explore the relationship between artistic expression , celebrity culture , and advertising that flourished by the 1960s , and span a variety of media , including painting , silkscreening , photography , film , and sculpture . Some of his best known works include the silkscreen paintings Campbell 's Soup Cans ( 1962 ) and Marilyn Diptych ( 1962 ) , the experimental film Chelsea Girls ( 1966 ) , and the multimedia events known as the Exploding Plastic Inevitable ( 1966 -- 67 ) .   Born and raised in Pittsburgh , Warhol initially pursued a successful career as a commercial illustrator . After exhibiting his work in several galleries in the late 1950s , he began to receive recognition as an influential and controversial artist . His New York studio , The Factory , became a well-known gathering place that brought together distinguished intellectuals , drag queens , playwrights , Bohemian street people , Hollywood celebrities , and wealthy patrons . He promoted a collection of personalities known as Warhol superstars , and is credited with coining the widely used expression `` 15 minutes of fame . '' In the late 1960s , he managed and produced the experimental rock band The Velvet Underground and founded Interview magazine . He authored numerous books , including The Philosophy of Andy Warhol and Popism : The Warhol Sixties . He is also notable as a gay man who lived openly as such before the gay liberation movement . After a gallbladder surgery in 1987 , Warhol died in February of that year at the age of 58 .   Warhol has been the subject of numerous retrospective exhibitions , books , and feature and documentary films . The Andy Warhol Museum in his native city of Pittsburgh , which holds an extensive permanent collection of art and archives , is the largest museum in the United States dedicated to a single artist . Many of his creations are very collectible and highly valuable . The highest price ever paid for a Warhol painting is US$ 105 million for a 1963 canvas titled `` Silver Car Crash ( Double Disaster ) '' ; his works include some of the most expensive paintings ever sold . A 2009 article in The Economist described Warhol as the `` bellwether of the art market '' .


Volleyball is incapable of being a team sport.

Volleyball Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net . Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team 's court under organized rules . It has been a part of the official program of the Summer Olympic Games since 1964 .   The complete rules are extensive . But simply , play proceeds as follows : a player on one of the teams begins a ` rally ' by serving the ball ( tossing or releasing it and then hitting it with a hand or arm ) , from behind the back boundary line of the court , over the net , and into the receiving team 's court . The receiving team must not let the ball be grounded within their court . The team may touch the ball up to 3 times but individual players may not touch the ball twice consecutively . Typically , the first two touches are used to set up for an attack , an attempt to direct the ball back over the net in such a way that the serving team is unable to prevent it from being grounded in their court .   The rally continues , with each team allowed as many as three consecutive touches , until either ( 1 ) : a team makes a kill , grounding the ball on the opponent 's court and winning the rally ; or ( 2 ) : a team commits a fault and loses the rally . The team that wins the rally is awarded a point , and serves the ball to start the next rally . A few of the most common faults include :  causing the ball to touch the ground or floor outside the opponents ' court or without first passing over the net ;  catching and throwing the ball ;  double hit : two consecutive contacts with the ball made by the same player ;  four consecutive contacts with the ball made by the same team ;  net foul : touching the net during play ;  foot fault : the foot crosses over the boundary line when serving .  The ball is usually played with the hands or arms , but players can legally strike or push ( short contact ) the ball with any part of the body .   A number of consistent techniques have evolved in volleyball , including spiking and blocking ( because these plays are made above the top of the net , the vertical jump is an athletic skill emphasized in the sport ) as well as passing , setting , and specialized player positions and offensive and defensive structures .


Song Sung Blue was only released in 1930.

Song Sung Blue `` Song Sung Blue '' is a 1972 hit song written and recorded by Neil Diamond , inspired by the second movement of Mozart 's Piano Concerto # 21 . The song was released on Diamond 's album , Moods and later appeared on many of Diamond 's live and compilation albums .   It was his second No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States , after 1970 's `` Cracklin ' Rosie '' , and to date his last . The song spent twelve weeks in the Top 40 . In addition , `` Song Sung Blue '' spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the adult contemporary chart . It also made the pop chart in the United Kingdom , reaching No. 14 on the UK Singles Chart . The song has become one of Diamond 's standards , and he often performs it during concerts .   `` Song Sung Blue '' was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 1973 , Record of the Year and Song of the Year . Both awards that year were won by Roberta Flack 's rendition of Ewan MacColl 's song , `` The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face '' .   Diamond described `` Song Sung Blue '' in the liner notes to his 1996 compilation album , In My Lifetime , as a `` very basic message , unadorned . I did n't even write a bridge to it . I never expected anyone to react to `` Song Sung Blue '' the way they did . I just like it , the message and the way a few words said so many things . ''   The song inspired the title of a 2008 documentary about a Neil Diamond impersonator who was married to a Patsy Cline impersonator .


Moods (Neil Diamond album) Moods is the eighth studio album by Neil Diamond , released by Uni Records in 1972 . It contained the second of his # 1 songs , `` Song Sung Blue '' , and was something of a follow-up in style to the highly experimental Tap Root Manuscript .   Billboard praised Moods highly , saying it contained `` brilliant , diversified material . '' This album , and its follow-up live album Hot August Night , are generally acknowledged to be the two most important recording projects of Diamond 's career in terms of defining his signature sound for the future . Within the music industry and among music professionals this is considered one of Diamond 's better and more creative recordings . It received a Grammy Award nomination for Album of the Year for 1972 . Song Sung Blue was nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year . Lee Holdridge was the arranger and conductor of the orchestra .


Buddhism's 500 million followers are known as Buddhists.

Buddhism Buddhism ( -LSB- pronˈbʊdɪzəm -RSB- or -LSB- ˈbuːdɪzəm -RSB- ) is an Indian religion and dharma that encompasses a variety of traditions , beliefs and spiritual practices largely based on teachings attributed to the Buddha . Buddhism originated in Ancient India sometime between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE , from where it spread through much of Asia , whereafter it declined in India during the middle ages . Two major extant branches of Buddhism are generally recognized by scholars : Theravada ( Pali : `` The School of the Elders '' ) and Mahayana ( Sanskrit : `` The Great Vehicle '' ) . Buddhism is the world 's fourth-largest religion , with over 500 million followers or 7 % of the global population , known as Buddhists .   Buddhist schools vary on the exact nature of the path to liberation , the importance and canonicity of various teachings and scriptures , and especially their respective practices . Practices of Buddhism include taking refuge in the Buddha , the Dharma and the Sangha , study of scriptures , observance of moral precepts , renunciation of craving and attachment , the practice of meditation ( including calm and insight ) , the cultivation of wisdom , loving-kindness and compassion , the Mahayana practice of bodhicitta and the Vajrayana practices of generation stage and completion stage .   In Theravada the ultimate goal is the cessation of the kleshas and the attainment of the sublime state of Nirvana , achieved by practicing the Noble Eightfold Path ( also known as the Middle Way ) , thus escaping what is seen as a cycle of suffering and rebirth . Theravada has a widespread following in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia .   Mahayana , which includes the traditions of Pure Land , Zen , Nichiren Buddhism , Shingon and Tiantai ( Tendai ) , is found throughout East Asia . Rather than Nirvana , Mahayana instead aspires to Buddhahood via the bodhisattva path , a state wherein one remains in the cycle of rebirth to help other beings reach awakening .   Vajrayana , a body of teachings attributed to Indian siddhas , may be viewed as a third branch or merely a part of Mahayana . Tibetan Buddhism , which preserves the Vajrayana teachings of eighth century India , is practiced in regions surrounding the Himalayas , Mongolia and Kalmykia . Tibetan Buddhism aspires to Buddhahood or rainbow body .


James Marsden appeared in a film series.

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


Veronica Mars was the protagonist of a show of the same name.

Veronica Mars (character) Veronica Mars is the fictional protagonist , occasional narrator ( through voiceovers ) , and antiheroine of the American television series Veronica Mars , which aired on UPN from 2004 to 2006 and on The CW from 2006 to 2007 . The character was portrayed by Kristen Bell through the duration of the series . Following the show 's cancellation , Bell reprised the role in the 2014 film continuation . The character , created by Rob Thomas , was originally male and the protagonist of his unproduced novel Untitled Rob Thomas Teen Detective Novel , which eventually became the basis of the series . After the work 's transition from novel to television series , Thomas changed the character 's gender from male to female as he believed a noir piece told from a female point of view would be more interesting .   Prior to the series , Veronica had to deal with her best friend Lily being murdered , her father losing his reputation as sheriff and her mother leaving him as a result , and losing her status as one of the popular girls in high school because of it .


Kristen Bell Kristen Anne Bell ( born July 18 , 1980 ) is an American actress and singer . She began her acting career starring in stage productions and attended the Tisch School of Arts in New York . In 2001 , she made her Broadway debut as Becky Thatcher in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and starred in the Broadway revival of The Crucible the following year . In 2004 , she had a supporting role in the film Spartan and received praise for her first leading performance in Gracie 's Choice .   Bell gained critical acclaim for her first major role as the title character in the teen noir drama television series Veronica Mars ( 2004 -- 07 ) . For her performance she was awarded a Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television . She reprised the eponymous role in the 2014 film continuation of the series . During her time on Veronica Mars , Bell appeared as Mary Lane in the film Reefer Madness : The Movie Musical ( 2005 ) , a reprise of the role she had played in the New York musical upon which the film was based . In 2007 , Bell joined the cast of the sci-fi series Heroes , playing the character Elle Bishop , for which she was nominated for a Saturn Award .   In 2008 , she had her breakout film role as the title character in Forgetting Sarah Marshall . She has since appeared in a number of comedy films , such as Couples Retreat ( 2009 ) , When in Rome ( 2010 ) , You Again ( 2010 ) , and The Boss ( 2016 ) . Bell garnered further recognition for voicing Princess Anna in the Disney film Frozen ( 2013 ) , the short film Frozen Fever ( 2015 ) , and the upcoming Frozen 2 . She also starred as the female lead on the Showtime series House of Lies . Since 2016 , she has starred in the main role of Eleanor Shellstrop on the NBC comedy series The Good Place .   Bell married actor Dax Shepard in 2013 , with whom she has two daughters .


Romelu Lukaku Romelu Menama Lukaku ( born 13 May 1993 ) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Everton and the Belgium national team . He is one of only five players to score 50 Premier League goals before his 23rd birthday , and the first foreign player to score 80 before his 24th birthday .   Lukaku started his career with local side Rupel Boom , before joining Lierse , where he earned a move to Anderlecht of the Belgian Pro League in 2006 . Lukaku made his professional debut while still at school at the age of 16 , and became the 2009 -- 10 top scorer in Belgium as Anderlecht won the Belgian championship . He also won the Belgian Ebony Shoe in 2011 . In the 2011 summer transfer window , Lukaku joined Premier League club Chelsea . He did not appear regularly in his first season there , and spent the following two seasons on loan at West Bromwich Albion and Everton respectively , signing permanently for the latter for a club record # 28 million in 2014 .   Lukaku made his senior international debut for Belgium in 2010 , and has since earned over 50 caps . He has also represented the country at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2016 .


Cate Blanchett performed on stage in London.

West End theatre West End theatre is a common term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of `` Theatreland '' in and near the West End of London . Along with New York City 's Broadway theatre , West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English-speaking world . Seeing a West End show is a common tourist activity in London .   In 2013 , ticket sales reached a record 14.4 million , making West End theatre the largest English-speaking audience in the world . Famous screen actors , British and international alike , frequently appear on the London stage .


Cate Blanchett Catherine Elise Blanchett ( -LSB- ˈblæntʃət -RSB- born 14 May 1969 ) is an Australian actress and theatre director . She has received international acclaim and many accolades , including six AACTA Awards , two Academy Awards , three Screen Actors Guild Awards , three Golden Globe Awards , and three BAFTA Awards . Blanchett came to international attention for her role as Elizabeth I of England in Shekhar Kapur 's 1998 film Elizabeth , for which she won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress , the Golden Globe Award , and earned her first Academy Award for Best Actress nomination . Her portrayal of Katharine Hepburn in Martin Scorsese 's 2004 film The Aviator brought her critical acclaim and many accolades , including the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role , making her the only actor to win an Oscar for portraying another Oscar-winning actor . In 2013 , she starred as Jasmine Francis in Woody Allen 's Blue Jasmine , for which she won numerous accolades including the Academy Award for Best Actress .   Blanchett is one of only six actors , and the only actress , to receive Academy Award nominations for portraying the same role in two films , accomplished in her case by portraying Queen Elizabeth I . She is additionally the only Australian to win two acting Oscars . A seven-time Oscar nominee , she has also received nominations for Notes on a Scandal ( 2006 ) , Elizabeth : The Golden Age ( 2007 ) , I 'm Not There ( 2007 ) and Carol ( 2015 ) . Her other notable films include The Talented Mr. Ripley ( 1999 ) , Babel ( 2006 ) , The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ( 2008 ) , Robin Hood ( 2010 ) , How to Train Your Dragon 2 ( 2014 ) , and Cinderella ( 2015 ) . Her main role in a big-budget movie was as Galadriel in Peter Jackson 's The Lord of the Rings trilogy ( 2001 -- 03 ) and The Hobbit trilogy ( 2012 -- 14 ) . She has been cast as Hela in the Marvel Studios film Thor : Ragnarok ( 2017 ) .   Blanchett has also had an extensive career on stage and is a four-time Helpmann Award winner for Best Female Actor in a Play . Her earlier roles include the title role in Electra at the National Institute of Dramatic Art ( 1992 ) , Ophelia in Hamlet at the Belvoir St Theatre in Sydney ( 1994 ) , Susan in Plenty in the West End ( 1999 ) , and the title role in Hedda Gabler with the Sydney Theatre Company ( 2004 ) . From 2008 to 2013 , she and her husband Andrew Upton were co-CEOs and artistic directors of the Sydney Theatre Company . Her other roles on stage include Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire in Sydney , New York at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and Washington D.C. at the Kennedy Center ( 2009 ) , Yelena in Uncle Vanya in Sydney , Washington D.C. at the Kennedy Center and New York at Lincoln Center ( 2011 ) , and Claire in The Maids in Sydney ( 2013 ) and New York at Lincoln Center ( 2014 ) .   Blanchett has been awarded the Centenary Medal for Service to Australian Society by the Australian government . She was appointed Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government in 2012 . She has been presented with a Doctor of Letters from University of New South Wales , University of Sydney , and Macquarie University in recognition of her extraordinary contribution to the arts , philanthropy and the community . In 2015 , she was honoured by the Museum of Modern Art and received the British Film Institute Fellowship in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the industry .


The United States Naval Academy is in the state capital of Maryland.

Maryland Maryland ( -LSB- ˈmɛrᵻlənd -RSB- ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States , bordering Virginia , West Virginia , and Washington , D.C. to its south and west ; Pennsylvania to its north ; and Delaware to its east . The state 's largest city is Baltimore , and its capital is Annapolis . Among its occasional nicknames are Old Line State , the Free State , and the Chesapeake Bay State . The state is named after Henrietta Maria of France , the wife of Charles I of England .   One of the original Thirteen Colonies , Maryland is considered to be the birthplace of religious freedom in America , when it was formed by George Calvert in the early 17th century as an intended refuge for persecuted Catholics from England . George Calvert was the first Lord of Baltimore and the first English proprietor of the then-Maryland colonial grant . Maryland was the seventh state to ratify the United States Constitution , and played a pivotal role in the founding of Washington , D.C. , which was established on land donated by the state .   Maryland is one of the smallest U.S. states in terms of area , as well as one of the most densely populated , with around six million residents . , Maryland had the highest median household income of any state , owing in large part to its close proximity to the nation 's capital and a highly diversified economy spanning manufacturing , services , and biotechnology .


United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy ( also known as USNA , Annapolis , or simply Navy ) is a four-year coeducational federal service academy in Annapolis , Maryland , United States . Established on 10 October 1845 , under Secretary of the Navy George Bancroft , it is the second oldest of the United States ' five service academies , and educates officers for commissioning primarily into the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps . The 338 acre campus is located on the former grounds of Fort Severn at the confluence of the Severn River and Chesapeake Bay in Anne Arundel County , 33 mi east of Washington , D.C. and 26 mi southeast of Baltimore . The entire campus is a National Historic Landmark and home to many historic sites , buildings , and monuments . It replaced Philadelphia Naval Asylum , in Philadelphia , that served as the first United States Naval Academy from 1838 to 1845 when the Naval Academy formed in Annapolis .   Candidates for admission generally must both apply directly to the academy and receive a nomination , usually from a Member of Congress . Students are officers-in-training and are referred to as midshipmen . Tuition for midshipmen is fully funded by the Navy in exchange for an active duty service obligation upon graduation . Approximately 1,200 `` plebes '' ( an abbreviation of the Ancient Roman word plebeian ) enter the Academy each summer for the rigorous Plebe Summer , but only about 1,000 midshipmen graduate . Graduates are usually commissioned as ensigns in the Navy or second lieutenants in the Marine Corps , but a small number can also be cross-commissioned as officers in other U.S. services , and the services of allied nations . The United States Naval Academy has some of the highest paid graduates in the country according to starting salary . The academic program grants a bachelor of science degree with a curriculum that grades midshipmen 's performance upon a broad academic program , military leadership performance , and mandatory participation in competitive athletics . Midshipmen are required to adhere to the academy 's Honor Concept .


Mark Hamill Mark Richard Hamill ( born September 25 , 1951 ) is an American actor , voice actor , producer and writer . He is best known for playing Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars film series . His other works include Corvette Summer ( 1978 ) and The Big Red One ( 1980 ) , among other television shows and movies . Hamill has also appeared on stage in several theater productions , primarily during the 1980s .   Hamill is a prolific voice actor who has voiced characters in many animated television shows , movies , and video games since the 1970s . He is known for his long-standing role as DC Comics ' the Joker , commencing with Batman : The Animated Series in 1992 .


Just Dance (song) `` Just Dance '' is the debut single by American singer Lady Gaga . The song was produced by RedOne and co-written by RedOne , Gaga and Akon , while also featuring labelmate Colby O'Donis . It was released in 2008 as the lead single from Gaga 's debut studio album , The Fame . The song was written by Gaga in ten minutes as `` a happy record '' . `` Just Dance '' also has influences of R&B and lyrically speaks about being intoxicated at a club .   The song received positive reviews from music critics , who complimented its club anthem-like nature and the synthpop associated with it . The song topped the charts in the United States , Australia , Canada , the Republic of Ireland , the Netherlands and the United Kingdom , as well as reaching the top ten in many other countries . In the United States , `` Just Dance '' was a sleeper hit , spending almost five months on the Billboard Hot 100 before finally reaching the summit of the chart in January 2009 , after being released in April 2008 . The single is among the best-selling singles of all time , having sold over 10 million copies .   The music video of the song portrayed Lady Gaga appearing in a party where she plays the song , prompting party-goers to start dancing in enjoyment . Gaga compared her experience of shooting the video with being on a Martin Scorsese set . `` Just Dance '' was performed by Gaga in a number of live appearances including all of her concert tours . In 2009 , the song received a Grammy nomination in the Best Dance Recording category but lost to electronic duo Daft Punk for their song `` Harder , Better , Faster , Stronger ( Alive 2007 ) '' .


Sriti Jha plays the lead role in an Hindi-language TV show.

Sriti Jha Sriti Jha ( born February 26 , 1986 ) is an Indian television actress , who appears in the Indian soap opera . She made her debut with the role of Malini Sharma in the Disney India 's teen drama Dhoom Machaao Dhoom . Jha rose to prominence with the serial Jyoti on NDTV Imagine as Sudha Sharma . She is a currently playing the lead role of Pragya in Zee TV 's show Kumkum Bhagya .


Kumkum Bhagya Kumkum Bhagya ( English : Vermillion In My Fate ) is a Hindi-language Indian soap opera which premiered on 15 April 2014 . and is broadcast on weeknights on Zee TV . The show is loosely based on the novel Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen . Kumkum Bhagya is its Indian interpretation , which follows the life of a Hindu-Punjabi matriarch , Sarla Arora , who runs a marriage hall . Sarla lives with the hope of seeing her two daughters Pragya and Bulbul , happily married some day . The pivotal characters of this show are strong , feisty women , living together in an all-female matriarchal family . The series stars Sriti Jha , Shabbir Ahluwalia with Mrunal Thakur , Arjit Taneja/Vin Rana , Shikha Singh and Leena Jumani in supporting roles . The series is produced by Ekta Kapoor under the banner Balaji Telefilms . Continuing her tradition , Ekta Kapoor has named the series starting with the letter `` K '' because she feels it is lucky . The show is directed by Sameer Kulkarni and developed by Ekta Kapoor .


Disney Channel (India) Disney Channel is an Indian television channel owned by the Indian division of The Walt Disney Company , specialising in television programming for children through original series , movies and third-party programming . The channel was officially launched on December 17 , 2004 . Originally positioned towards kids , Disney Channel had recently launched a slew of new TV shows airing on weekends that were aimed at the whole family . The channel is very popular among kids and teens in India and had consistently ranked as the number one kids ' channel in the country until 2012 .   Disney Channel is available as a pay-TV channel on most cable and satellite TV providers . The channel is based in Mumbai , Maharashtra . It is the first kids ' and teens ' channel to cross 200 + GRPs for five years . It is available in English , Hindi , Telugu and Tamil , although many shows broadcast on the channel are only available in Hindi .


Imagine TV Imagine TV was a popular Hindi general entertainment channel , owned by Turner Broadcasting System based in New Delhi .   The channel was known for shows like . Bandini , Swayamvar , Meethi Chhori No 1 , Jyoti , Ramayan , Do Hanson Ka Jodaa , Pati Patni Aur Woh , Chandragupta Maurya , Junoon , Pardes Mein Mila Koi Apna , Baba Aiso Varr Dhoondo , Haar Jeet , Seeta Aur Geeta , Jasuben Jayantilaal Joshi Ki Joint Family , Knights & Angels , Oye ! It 's Friday ! , Nachle Ve with Saroj Khan , Rehna Hai Teri Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein , Angrezi Mein Kehte Hain , Rakt Sambandh , Main Teri Parchhain Hoon , Dil Jeetegi Desi Girl , Dharampatni , Gunahon Ka Devta , Sawaare Sabke Sapne Preeto , Shaadi 3 Crore Ki , Radhaa Ki Betiyaan Kuch Kar Dikhayengi , and Looteri Dulhan . The channel stopped showing new material on 12 April 2012 and broadcast reruns until it finally closed on 11 May 2012 .


Texas Texas ( -LSB- ˈtɛksəs -RSB- , -LSB- localˈtɛksᵻz -RSB- Texas or Tejas -LSB- ˈtexas -RSB- ) is the second largest state in the United States by both area and population . Geographically located in the South Central region of the country , Texas shares borders with the U.S. states of Louisiana to the east , Arkansas to the northeast , Oklahoma to the north , New Mexico to the west , and the Mexican states of Chihuahua , Coahuila , Nuevo León , and Tamaulipas to the southwest , while the Gulf of Mexico is to the southeast .   Houston is the most populous city in Texas and the fourth largest in the U.S. , while San Antonio is the second most populous in the state and seventh largest in the U.S. Dallas -- Fort Worth and Greater Houston are the fourth and fifth largest metropolitan statistical areas in the country , respectively . Other major cities include Austin , the second most populous state capital in the U.S. , and El Paso . Texas is nicknamed `` The Lone Star State '' to signify its former status as an independent republic , and as a reminder of the state 's struggle for independence from Mexico . The `` Lone Star '' can be found on the Texan state flag and on the Texan state seal . The origin of Texas 's name is from the word `` Tejas , '' which means `` friends '' in the Caddo language .   Due to its size and geologic features such as the Balcones Fault , Texas contains diverse landscapes that resemble both the U.S. Southern and Southwestern regions . Although Texas is popularly associated with the U.S. southwestern deserts , less than 10 % of Texas ' land area is desert . Most of the population centers are located in areas of former prairies , grasslands , forests , and the coastline . Traveling from east to west , one can observe terrain that ranges from coastal swamps and piney woods , to rolling plains and rugged hills , and finally the desert and mountains of the Big Bend .   The term `` six flags over Texas `` For example , as used by the large Grand Prairie -- based national and international amusement park operator Six Flags refers to several nations that have ruled over the territory . Spain was the first European country to claim the area of Texas . France held a short-lived colony . Mexico controlled the territory until 1836 when Texas won its independence , becoming an independent Republic . In 1845 , Texas joined the union as the 28th state . The state 's annexation set off a chain of events that led to the Mexican -- American War in 1846 . A slave state before the American Civil War , Texas declared its secession from the U.S. in early 1861 , and officially joined the Confederate States of America on March 2 of the same year . After the Civil War and the restoration of its representation in the federal government , Texas entered a long period of economic stagnation .   One Texan industry that thrived after the Civil War was cattle . Due to its long history as a center of the industry , Texas is associated with the image of the cowboy . The state 's economic fortunes changed in the early 20th century , when oil discoveries initiated an economic boom in the state . With strong investments in universities , Texas developed a diversified economy and high tech industry in the mid-20th century . As of 2015 , it is second on the list of the most Fortune 500 companies with 54 . With a growing base of industry , the state leads in many industries , including agriculture , petrochemicals , energy , computers and electronics , aerospace , and biomedical sciences . Texas has led the nation in export revenue since 2002 and has the second-highest gross state product .


States of Mexico The states of Mexico are first-level administrative territorial entities of the country of Mexico , which officially is named United Mexican States . There are 31 states in Mexico . Mexico City is a federal entity with a level of autonomy comparable to that of a state , but is not a state itself .   The states are further divided into municipalities .


American company Apple Inc. is the world's largest information technology company by revenue.

Apple Inc. Apple Inc. is an American multinational technology company headquartered in Cupertino , California that designs , develops , and sells consumer electronics , computer software , and online services . The company 's hardware products include the iPhone smartphone , the iPad tablet computer , the Mac personal computer , the iPod portable media player , the Apple Watch smartwatch , and the Apple TV digital media player . Apple 's consumer software includes the macOS and iOS operating systems , the iTunes media player , the Safari web browser , and the iLife and iWork creativity and productivity suites . Its online services include the iTunes Store , the iOS App Store and Mac App Store , Apple Music , and iCloud .   Apple was founded by Steve Jobs , Steve Wozniak , and Ronald Wayne in April 1976 to develop and sell personal computers . It was incorporated as Apple Computer , Inc. in January 1977 , and sales of its computers saw significant momentum and revenue growth for the company . Within a few years , they had hired a staff of computer designers and had a production line . Apple went public in 1980 to instant financial success . Over the next few years , Apple shipped new computers featuring innovative graphical user interfaces , and Apple 's marketing commercials for its products received widespread critical acclaim . However , the high price tag of its products and limited software titles caused problems , as did power struggles between executives at the company . Jobs resigned from Apple and created his own company . As the market for personal computers increased , Apple 's computers saw diminishing sales due to lower-priced products from competitors , in particular those offered with the Microsoft Windows operating system . More executive job shuffles happened at Apple until then-CEO Gil Amelio in 1997 decided to buy Jobs ' company to bring him back . Jobs regained position as CEO , and began a process to rebuild Apple 's status , which included opening Apple 's own retail stores in 2001 , making numerous acquisitions of software companies to create a portfolio of software titles , and changed some of the hardware technology used in its computers . It again saw success and returned to profitability . In January 2007 , Jobs announced that Apple Computer , Inc. would be renamed Apple Inc. to reflect its shifted focus toward consumer electronics , and announced the iPhone , which saw critical acclaim and significant financial success . In August 2011 , Jobs resigned as CEO due to health complications , and Tim Cook became the new CEO . Two months later , Jobs died , marking the end of an era for the company .   Apple is the world 's largest information technology company by revenue , and the world 's second-largest mobile phone manufacturer after Samsung . In February 2015 , Apple became the first U.S. company to be valued at over US$ 700billion . The company employs 116,000 full-time employees and maintains 496 retail stores in 21 countries . It operates the iTunes Store , which is the world 's largest music retailer . , more than one billion Apple products are actively in use worldwide .   Apple 's worldwide annual revenue totaled $ 215billion for the 2016 fiscal year . The company enjoys a high level of brand loyalty and has been repeatedly ranked as the world 's most valuable brand . However , it receives significant criticism regarding the labor practices of its contractors and its environmental and business practices , including the origins of source materials .


Liverpool F.C. was valued at $1.55 billion.

Liverpool F.C. Liverpool Football Club ( -LSB- ˈlɪvərpuːl -RSB- ) is a professional association football club based in Liverpool , Merseyside , England . They compete in the Premier League , the top tier of English football . The club has won 5 European Cups , 3 UEFA Cups , 3 UEFA Super Cups , 18 League titles , 7 FA Cups , a record 8 League Cups , and 15 FA Community Shields .   The club was founded in 1892 and joined the Football League the following year . The club has played at Anfield since its formation . Liverpool established itself as a major force in both English and European football during the 1970s and 1980s when Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley led the club to 11 League titles and seven European trophies . Under the management of Rafa Benítez and captained by Steven Gerrard Liverpool became European champion for the fifth time , winning the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final against Milan in spite of being 3 -- 0 down at half time .   Liverpool was the ninth highest-earning football club in the world for 2014 -- 15 , with an annual revenue of $ 391 million , and the world 's eighth most valuable football club in 2016 , valued at $ 1.55 billion . The club holds many long-standing rivalries , most notably the North West Derby against Manchester United and the Merseyside derby with Everton .   The club 's supporters have been involved in two major tragedies . The first was the Heysel Stadium disaster in 1985 , where escaping fans were pressed against a collapsing wall in the Heysel Stadium , with 39 people -- mostly Italians and Juventus fans -- dying , after which English clubs were given a five-year ban from European competition . The second was the Hillsborough disaster in 1989 , where 96 Liverpool supporters died in a crush against perimeter fencing . The team changed from red shirts and white shorts to an all-red home strip in 1964 which has been used ever since . The club 's anthem is `` You 'll Never Walk Alone '' .


Sikhism Sikhism ( -LSB- ˈsikᵻzəm -RSB- ) , or Sikhi ( ਸਿ ਖੀ , -LSB- ˈsɪkːʰiː -RSB- , from Sikh , meaning a `` disciple '' , or a `` learner '' ) , is a panentheistic religion that originated in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent about the end of the 15th century . It is one of the youngest of the major world religions . The fundamental beliefs of Sikhism , articulated in the sacred scripture Guru Granth Sahib , include faith and meditation on the name of the one creator , unity of all humankind , engaging in selfless service , striving for social justice for the benefit and prosperity of all , and honest conduct and livelihood while living a householder 's life . Sikhism has 25-28 million adherents worldwide and is the ninth-largest religion in the world .   Sikhism is based on the spiritual teachings of Guru Nanak , the first Guru , and the ten successive Sikh gurus . Guru Nanak established Kartarpur ( Creator 's town ) around 1520 and gathered the original core of the Sikh Panth ( community ) there . After the death of the tenth Guru , Guru Gobind Singh , the Sikh scripture , Guru Granth Sahib , became the literal embodiment of the eternal , impersonal Guru , where the scripture 's word serves as the spiritual guide for Sikhs . An Indian religion , Sikhism rejects claims that any particular religious tradition has a monopoly on Absolute Truth .   Sikhism emphasizes simran ( meditation on the words of the Guru Granth Sahib ) , that can be expressed musically through kirtan or internally through Nam Japo ( repeat God 's name ) as a means to feel God 's presence , and to have control over the `` Five Thieves '' ( lust , rage , greed , attachment and conceit ) . Hand in hand , secular life is considered to be intertwined with the spiritual life . Guru Nanak taught that living an `` active , creative , and practical life '' of `` truthfulness , fidelity , self-control and purity '' is above the metaphysical truth , and that the ideal man is one who `` establishes union with God , knows His Will , and carries out that Will '' . Guru Hargobind , the sixth Sikh Guru , established the political/temporal ( Miri ) and spiritual ( Piri ) realms to be mutually coexistent .   The development of Sikhism was influenced by the Bhakti movement , however , Sikhism was not simply an extension of the Bhakti movement . Sikhism developed while the region was being ruled by the Mughal Empire . Two of the Sikh gurus -- Guru Arjan and Guru Tegh Bahadur , after they refused to convert to Islam , were tortured and executed by the Mughal rulers . The Islamic era persecution of Sikhs triggered the founding of the Khalsa , as an order for freedom of conscience and religion . A Sikh is expected to embody the qualities of a `` Sant-Sipāhī '' a saint-soldier .


Eddie Vedder Eddie Vedder ( born Edward Louis Severson ; December 23 , 1964 ) is an American musician , singer and songwriter best known as a member of the rock band Pearl Jam , with whom he performs lead vocals and is one of three guitarists . He is known for his powerful baritone vocals .   He is also involved in making music and contributes to albums by other artists . In 2007 , Vedder released his first solo album as a soundtrack for the film Into the Wild ( 2007 ) . His second album Ukulele Songs and a live DVD titled Water on the Road were released in 2011 .   Vedder was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Pearl Jam on April 7 , 2017 .


Northeast megalopolis The Northeast megalopolis ( also Boston -- Washington Corridor or Bos-Wash Corridor ) is the most heavily urbanized region of the United States , running primarily northeast to southwest from the northern suburbs of Boston , Massachusetts , to the southern suburbs of Washington , D.C. , in Northern Virginia . It includes the major cities of Boston , Providence , Hartford , New York City , Philadelphia , Baltimore , and Washington , D.C. , along with their metropolitan areas and suburbs as well as many smaller urban centers .   On a map , the Northeast megalopolis appears almost as a straight line . As of the year 2000 , the region contained 49.6 million people , about 17 % of the U.S. population on less than 2 % of the nation 's land area , with a population density of 931.3 people per square mile ( 359.6 people/km2 ) , compared to the U.S. average of 80.5 per square mile 2 ( 31 people/km2 ) . America 2050 projections expect the area to grow to 58.1 million people by 2025 .   French geographer Jean Gottmann popularized the term in his landmark 1961 study of the region , Megalopolis : The Urbanized Northeastern Seaboard of the United States . Gottmann concluded that the region 's cities , while discrete and independent , are uniquely tied to each other through the intermeshing of their suburban zones , taking on some characteristics of a single , massive city : a megalopolis .


Boston Boston ( pronounced -LSB- ˈbɒstən -RSB- ) is the capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States . Boston is also the seat of Suffolk County , although the county government was disbanded on July 1 , 1999 . The city proper covers 48 mi2 with an estimated population of 667,137 in 2015 , making it the largest city in New England and the 23rd most populous city in the United States . The city is the economic and cultural anchor of a substantially larger metropolitan area known as Greater Boston , a Metropolitan Statistical Area ( MSA ) home to a census-estimated 4.7 million people in 2014 and ranking as the tenth-largest such area in the country . Alternately , as a Combined Statistical Area ( CSA ) , this wider commuting region is home to some 8.1 million people , making it the sixth-largest as such in the United States .   One of the oldest cities in the United States , Boston was founded on the Shawmut Peninsula in 1630 by Puritan settlers from England . It was the scene of several key events of the American Revolution , such as the Boston Massacre , the Boston Tea Party , the Battle of Bunker Hill , and the Siege of Boston . Upon U.S. independence from Great Britain , it continued to be an important port and manufacturing hub as well as a center for education and culture . Through land reclamation and municipal annexation , Boston has expanded beyond the original peninsula . Its rich history attracts many tourists , with Faneuil Hall alone drawing over 20 million visitors per year . Boston 's many firsts include the United States ' first public school , Boston Latin School ( 1635 ) , first subway system , the Tremont Street Subway ( 1897 ) , and first public park , Boston Common ( 1634 ) .   The area 's many colleges and universities make Boston an international center of higher education , including law , medicine , engineering , and business , and the city is considered to be a world leader in innovation and entrepreneurship , with nearly 2,000 startups . Boston 's economic base also includes finance , professional and business services , biotechnology , information technology , and government activities . Households in the city claim the highest average rate of philanthropy in the United States ; businesses and institutions rank among the top in the country for environmental sustainability and investment . The city has one of the highest costs of living in the United States as it has undergone gentrification , though it remains high on world livability rankings .


Gayathri Raguram Gayathri Raguram is an Indian film actress and choreographer who works in south Indian language films . Daughter of noted dancer , Raguram , she began acting in the 2002 film Charlie Chaplin and later started working as choreographers in films .


Three quarters of Austria was part of the Holy Roman Empire.

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 .


Eat Pray Love is based on Elizabeth Gilbert's memoir "Eat, Pray, Love".

Eat Pray Love Eat Pray Love is a 2010 American biographical romantic comedy-drama film starring Julia Roberts as Elizabeth Gilbert , based on Gilbert 's best-selling memoir Eat , Pray , Love . Ryan Murphy co-wrote and directed the film , which opened in the United States on August 13 , 2010 .


Ice hockey Ice hockey is a contact team sport played on ice , usually in a rink , in which two teams of skaters use their sticks to shoot a vulcanized rubber puck into their opponent 's net to score points . The sport is known to be fast-paced and physical , with teams usually consisting of six players each : one goaltender , and five players who skate up and down the ice trying to take the puck and score a goal against the opposing team .   Ice hockey is most popular in Canada , central and eastern Europe , Scandinavia , and the northern regions of the United States . Ice hockey is the official national winter sport of Canada , where the modern version of the sport was created , and enjoys immense popularity ; alongside Canada , hockey is the most popular winter sport in Finland , Latvia , the Czech Republic , Sweden , Slovakia , Belarus and Switzerland . In North America , the National Hockey League ( NHL ) is the highest level for men 's hockey and the most popular . The Kontinental Hockey League ( KHL ) is the highest league in Russia and much of Eastern Europe . The International Ice Hockey Federation ( IIHF ) is the formal governing body for international ice hockey , with the IIHF managing international tournaments and maintaining the IIHF World Ranking . Worldwide , there are ice hockey federations in 74 countries .   Ice hockey is believed to have evolved from simple stick and ball games played in the 18th and 19th century United Kingdom and elsewhere . These games were brought to North America and several similar winter games using informal rules were developed , such as `` shinny '' and `` ice polo '' . The contemporary sport of ice hockey was developed in Canada , most notably in Montreal , where the first indoor hockey game was played on March 3 , 1875 . Some characteristics of that game , such as the length of the ice rink and the use of a puck , have been retained to this day . Amateur ice hockey leagues began in the 1880s , and professional ice hockey originated around 1900 . The Stanley Cup , emblematic of ice hockey club supremacy , was first awarded in 1893 to recognize the Canadian amateur champion and later became the championship trophy of the NHL . In the early 1900s , the Canadian rules were adopted by the Ligue Internationale de Hockey sur Glace , the precursor of the IIHF and the sport was played for the first time in the Olympics in the Olympic Games of 1920 .   In international competitions , the national teams of six countries ( the `` Big Six '' ) predominate : Canada , Czech Republic , Finland , Russia , Sweden and the United States . Of the 69 medals awarded all-time in men 's competition at the Olympics , only six medals were not awarded to one of those countries . In the annual Ice Hockey World Championships , 177 of 201 medals have been awarded to the six nations . Teams outside the `` Big Six '' have won only five medals in either competition since 1953 : All 12 Women 's Olympic and 36 IIHF World Women 's Championships medals have been awarded to one of these six countries , and every gold medal in both competitions has been won by either the Canadian national team or the United States national team .   In Canada , the United States , and some European countries it is known simply as hockey ; the name `` ice hockey '' is used in places where `` hockey '' more often refers to field hockey , such as South America , Asia , Africa , Australasia , and some European countries . In Russia and Ukraine , where `` hockey '' can also refer to bandy , ice hockey is often called `` hockey with puck '' .


Socrates was a classical philosopher from Athens.

Socrates Socrates ( -LSB- ˈsɒkrətiːz -RSB- Σωκράτης -LSB- - grcsɔːkrátɛːs -RSB- , Sōkrátēs ; 470/469 -- 399 BC ) was a classical Greek ( Athenian ) philosopher credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy . He is an enigmatic figure known chiefly through the accounts of classical writers , especially the writings of his students Plato and Xenophon and the plays of his contemporary Aristophanes . Plato 's dialogues are among the most comprehensive accounts of Socrates to survive from antiquity , though it is unclear the degree to which Socrates himself is `` hidden behind his ` best disciple ' , Plato '' .   Through his portrayal in Plato 's dialogues , Socrates has become renowned for his contribution to the field of ethics , and it is this Platonic Socrates who lends his name to the concepts of Socratic irony and the Socratic method , or elenchus . The latter remains a commonly used tool in a wide range of discussions , and is a type of pedagogy in which a series of questions is asked not only to draw individual answers , but also to encourage fundamental insight into the issue at hand . Plato 's Socrates also made important and lasting contributions to the field of epistemology , and his ideologies and approach have proven a strong foundation for much Western philosophy that has followed .


Peru has not gone through economic upswing.

Peru Peru , is a country in western South America . It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia , in the east by Brazil , in the southeast by Bolivia , in the south by Chile , and in the west by the Pacific Ocean . Peru is an extremely biodiverse country with habitats ranging from the arid plains of the Pacific coastal region in the west to the peaks of the Andes mountains vertically extending from the north to the southeast of the country to the tropical Amazon Basin rainforest in the east with the Amazon river .   Peruvian territory was home to ancient cultures spanning from the Norte Chico civilization in Caral ( one of the oldest in the world with settlements as old as 3200 BC ) to the Inca Empire , the largest state in Pre-Columbian America . The Spanish Empire conquered the region in the 16th century and established a Viceroyalty with its capital in Lima , which included most of its South American colonies . Ideas of political autonomy later spread throughout Spanish America and Peru gained its independence , which was formally proclaimed in 1821 after the occupation by military campaigns of José de San Martín and Simón Bolívar and only after the battle of Ayacucho , three years after proclamation , Peru ensured its independence . After achieving independence , the country remained in recession and kept a low military profile until an economic rise based on the extraction of raw and maritime materials struck the country , which ended shortly before the war of the Pacific . Subsequently , the country has undergone changes in government from oligarchic to democratic systems . Peru has gone through periods of political unrest and internal conflict as well as periods of stability and economic upswing .   Peru is a representative democratic republic divided into 25 regions . It is a developing country with a high Human Development Index score and a poverty level around 25.8 percent . Its main economic activities include mining , manufacturing , agriculture and fishing .   The Peruvian population , estimated at 31.2 million in 2015 , is multiethnic , including Amerindians , Europeans , Africans and Asians . The main spoken language is Spanish , although a significant number of Peruvians speak Quechua or other native languages . This mixture of cultural traditions has resulted in a wide diversity of expressions in fields such as art , cuisine , literature , and music .   __ TOC __


The Big Trail was only shot in the German West.

The Big Trail The Big Trail is a 1930 American pre-Code early widescreen movie shot on location across the American West starring John Wayne in his first leading role and directed by Raoul Walsh .   In 2006 , the United States Library of Congress deemed this film `` culturally , historically , or aesthetically significant '' , and selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry , saying `` the plot of a trek along the Oregon Trail is aided immensely by the majestic sweep provided by the experimental Grandeur wide-screen process used in filming '' .