Chelsea F.C. Chelsea Football Club ( -LSB- ˈtʃɛlsiː -RSB- ) is an English professional football club based in Fulham , London , that competes in the Premier League , of which they are reigning champions . Founded in 1905 , the club 's home ground since then has been Stamford Bridge .   Chelsea had their first major success in 1955 , when they won the league championship . They then won various cup competitions between 1965 and 1971 . The club 's greatest period of success has come during the last two decades ; winning 18 major trophies since 1997 . Chelsea have won six national league titles , seven FA Cups , five League Cups and four FA Community Shields , one UEFA Champions League , two UEFA Cup Winners ' Cups , one UEFA Europa League and one UEFA Super Cup . Chelsea are the only London club to win the UEFA Champions League , and one of five clubs to have won all three main UEFA club competitions , first English to do so .   Chelsea 's regular kit colours are royal blue shirts and shorts with white socks . The club 's crest has been changed several times in attempts to re-brand the club and modernise its image . The current crest , featuring a ceremonial lion rampant regardant holding a staff , is a modification of the one introduced in the early 1950s . The club have the sixth-highest average all-time attendance in English football . Their average home gate for the 2016 -- 17 season was 41,507 , the sixth highest in the Premier League . Since 2003 , Chelsea have been owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich . In 2016 , they were ranked by Forbes magazine as the seventh most valuable football club in the world , at # 1.15 billion ( $ 1.66 billion ) .


James Arness James Arness ( May 26 , 1923 -- June 3 , 2011 ) was an American actor , best known for portraying Marshal Matt Dillon for 20 years in the television series Gunsmoke . Arness has the distinction of having played the role of Dillon in five separate decades : 1955 to 1975 in the weekly series , then in Gunsmoke : Return to Dodge ( 1987 ) and four more made-for-television Gunsmoke films in the 1990s . In Europe , Arness reached cult status for his role as Zeb Macahan in the western series How the West Was Won . He was the older brother of actor Peter Graves ( 1926 - 2010 ) .


Kurupt Ricardo Emmanuel Brown ( born November 23 , 1972 ) , better known by his stage name Kurupt , is an American rapper , actor and former Executive Vice President of Death Row Records . He is a member of the rap group Tha Dogg Pound , and is mostly known for his work with Death Row Records . He is also a member of the hip-hop supergroup The HRSMN .


Roger Moore's full name in English is Sir Roger George Moore.

Roger Moore Sir Roger George Moore , ( -LSB- mɔər -RSB- 14 October 1927 -- 23 May 2017 ) was an English actor . He is best known for playing secret agent James Bond in seven feature films between 1973 and 1985 . He also played Simon Templar in the television series The Saint between 1962 and 1969 .   Moore took over the role of Bond from Sean Connery in 1972 , and made his first appearance as 007 in Live and Let Die ( 1973 ) . The longest serving Bond to date , he went on to portray the spy in six more films . Appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 1991 , Moore was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003 for `` services to charity '' . In 2007 he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work on television and in film , aptly located at 7007 Hollywood Boulevard . In 2008 , the French government appointed Moore a Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres .


Twilight's first novel, Twilight, was released in 2005.

Twilight (Meyer novel) Twilight ( stylized as twilight ) ( 2005 ) is a young adult vampire-romance novel by author Stephenie Meyer . It is the first book in the Twilight series , and introduces seventeen-year-old Isabella `` Bella '' Swan , who moves from Phoenix , Arizona to Forks , Washington . She is endangered after falling in love with Edward Cullen , a vampire . Additional novels in the series are New Moon , Eclipse , and Breaking Dawn .   Twilight received lukewarm reviews . Some praised the novel 's tone and its portrayal of common teenage emotions such as alienation and rebellion . Others criticized Meyer 's prose and argued the story was lacking in character development . It reached number five on the New York Times bestseller list within a month of its release and eventually reached first place . The novel was named one of Publishers Weekly 's Best Children 's Books of 2005 .   The film adaptation , released in 2008 , was a commercial success , grossing more than $ 392 million worldwide and making an additional $ 157 million in North American DVD sales as of July 2009 . The book was the biggest-selling of 2008 ; in 2009 , it was the second-biggest selling , losing only to its sequel New Moon .   As of 2008 , Twilight has been translated into 37 different languages .   In October 2015 , Stephanie Meyer announced a new gender-swapped version of the novel , entitled Life and Death : Twilight Reimagined , with characters Beau and Edythe , in honor of the 10th anniversary of the Twilight saga .


Twilight (novel series) Twilight is a series of four vampire-themed fantasy romance novels by American author Stephenie Meyer . Released annually from 2005 through 2008 , the four books chart the later teen years of Isabella `` Bella '' Swan , a girl who moves to Forks , Washington , and falls in love with a 104-year-old vampire named Edward Cullen . The series is told primarily from Bella 's point of view , with the epilogue of Eclipse and Part II of Breaking Dawn being told from the viewpoint of character Jacob Black , a werewolf . The unpublished Midnight Sun is a retelling of the first book , Twilight , from Edward Cullen 's point of view . The novella The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner , which tells the story of a newborn vampire who appeared in Eclipse , was published on June 5 , 2010 , as a hardcover book and on June 7 as a free online ebook . The Twilight Saga : The Official Illustrated Guide , a definitive encyclopedic reference with nearly 100 full color illustrations , was released in bookstores on April 12 , 2011 .   Since the release of the first novel , Twilight , in 2005 , the books have gained immense popularity and commercial success around the world . The series is most popular among young adults ; the four books have won multiple awards , most notably the 2008 British Book Award for `` Children 's Book of the Year '' for Breaking Dawn , while the series as a whole won the 2009 Kids ' Choice Award for Favorite Book .   In November 2011 , the series had sold over 120 million copies worldwide with translations into at least 38 different languages around the globe . The four Twilight books have consecutively set records as the biggest selling novels of 2008 on the USA Today Best-Selling Books list and have spent over 235 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller list for Children 's Series Books .   The books have been made into The Twilight Saga '' series of motion pictures by Summit Entertainment . The film adaptations of the first three books were released in 2008 , 2009 , and 2010 respectively . The fourth book is adapted into two full-length films -- the first film being released in November 2011 , and the second film in November 2012 .


In the United Kingdom, Fifty Shades of Grey became the record-holder for fastest-selling paperback.

Fifty Shades of Grey Fifty Shades of Grey is a 2011 erotic romance novel by British author E. L. James . It is the first instalment in the Fifty Shades trilogy that traces the deepening relationship between a college graduate , Anastasia Steele , and a young business magnate , Christian Grey . It is notable for its explicitly erotic scenes featuring elements of sexual practices involving bondage/discipline , dominance/submission , and sadism/masochism ( BDSM ) . Originally self-published as an ebook and a print-on-demand , publishing rights were acquired by Vintage Books in March 2012 .   Fifty Shades of Grey has topped best-seller lists around the world , selling over 125 million copies worldwide by June 2015 . It has been translated into 52 languages , and set a record in the United Kingdom as the fastest-selling paperback of all time . Critical reception of the book , however , has tended towards the negative , with the quality of its prose generally seen as poor . Universal Pictures and Focus Features produced a film adaptation , which was released on 13 February 2015 and also received generally unfavourable reviews .   The second and third volumes of the trilogy , Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed , were published in 2012 . Grey : Fifty Shades of Grey as Told by Christian , a version of Fifty Shades of Grey being told from Christian 's point of view , was published in June 2015 .


The first Harry Potter book was Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Harry Potter Harry Potter is a series of fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling . The novels chronicle the life of a young wizard , Harry Potter , and his friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley , all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry . The main story arc concerns Harry 's struggle against Lord Voldemort , a dark wizard who intends to become immortal , overthrow the wizard governing body known as the Ministry of Magic , and subjugate all wizards and Muggles , a reference term that means non-magical people .   Since the release of the first novel , Harry Potter and the Philosopher 's Stone , on 26 June 1997 , the books have found immense popularity , critical acclaim and commercial success worldwide . The series has now been translated into multiple languages including French , Irish , Spanish , German and Swedish to name a few . They have attracted a wide adult audience as well as younger readers , and are often considered cornerstones of modern young adult literature . The series has also had its share of criticism , including concern about the increasingly dark tone as the series progressed , as well as the often gruesome and graphic violence it depicts . , the books have sold more than 500 million copies worldwide , making them the best-selling book series in history , and have been translated into seventy-three languages . The last four books consecutively set records as the fastest-selling books in history , with the final instalment selling roughly eleven million copies in the United States within twenty-four hours of its release .   The series was originally published in English by two major publishers , Bloomsbury in the United Kingdom and Scholastic Press in the United States . A play , Harry Potter and the Cursed Child , based on a story co-written by Rowling , premiered in London on 30 July 2016 at the Palace Theatre , and its script was published by Little , Brown as the eighth book in the series . The original seven books were adapted into an eight-part film series by Warner Bros. . Pictures , which has become the second highest-grossing film series of all time . In 2016 , the total value of the Harry Potter franchise was estimated at $ 25 billion , making Harry Potter one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time .   A series of many genres , including fantasy , drama , coming of age , friendship , and the British school story ( which includes elements of mystery , thriller , adventure , horror and romance ) , the world of Harry Potter explores numerous themes and includes many cultural meanings and references . According to Rowling , the main theme is death . Other major themes in the series include prejudice , corruption , and madness .   The success of the books and films has ensured that the Harry Potter franchise continues to expand , with numerous derivative works , a travelling exhibition that premiered in Chicago in 2009 , a studio tour in London that opened in 2012 , a digital platform on which J.K. Rowling updates the series with new information and insight , and a pentalogy of spin-off films premiering in November 2016 , among many other developments . Most recently , themed attractions , collectively known as The Wizarding World of Harry Potter , have been built at several Universal Parks & Resorts amusement parks around the world .


The New Adventures of Old Christine has an all-Dutch cast.

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


Julia Louis-Dreyfus Julia Scarlett Elizabeth Louis-Dreyfus ( -LSB- ˈluːi_ˈdraɪfəs -RSB- born January 13 , 1961 ) is an American actress , comedian , and producer . She is known for her work in television comedy , including Saturday Night Live ( 1982 -- 85 ) , Seinfeld ( 1989 -- 98 ) , The New Adventures of Old Christine ( 2006 -- 10 ) , and Veep ( 2012 -- present ) . Louis-Dreyfus holds several records for most Primetime Emmy Award wins and nominations .   Louis-Dreyfus broke into comedy as a performer in The Practical Theatre Company in Chicago , Illinois , which led to her casting in the sketch show Saturday Night Live from 1982 to 1985 . Her breakthrough came in 1990 with a nine-season run playing Elaine Benes on Seinfeld , one of the most critically and commercially successful sitcoms of all time . Other notable television roles include Christine Campbell in The New Adventures of Old Christine , which had a five-season run on CBS , and her role as Selina Meyer in Veep , which has recently been renewed by HBO for a sixth season . Louis-Dreyfus ' film roles have included Hannah and Her Sisters ( 1986 ) , National Lampoon 's Christmas Vacation ( 1989 ) , Deconstructing Harry ( 1997 ) , and Enough Said ( 2013 ) . She has voiced roles in several animated films , including A Bug 's Life ( 1998 ) and Planes ( 2013 ) .   Louis-Dreyfus has received nine Emmy Awards , seven for acting and two for producing , with a total of 22 nominations throughout her career . She has also received a Golden Globe Award , seven Screen Actors Guild Awards , five American Comedy Awards , and two Critics ' Choice Television Awards . Louis-Dreyfus received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010 , and was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2014 . In 2016 , Time named Louis-Dreyfus one of the 100 most influential people in the world on the annual Time 100 list .


Clark Gregg Robert Clark Gregg ( born April 2 , 1962 ) , known professionally as Clark Gregg , is an American actor , director , screenwriter and voice actor . He is best known for the role of Agent Phil Coulson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe . He has appeared in Iron Man ( 2008 ) , Iron Man 2 ( 2010 ) , Thor ( 2011 ) , The Avengers ( 2012 ) , and the television series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. being the actor with the longest screen time in the MCU . He also voices the character on the animated television series Ultimate Spider-Man and in the video games Lego Marvel Super Heroes , Lego Marvel Avengers and Marvel Heroes .   Gregg has also co-starred as Christine Campbell 's ex-husband Richard in the CBS sitcom The New Adventures of Old Christine , which debuted in March 2006 and concluded in May 2010 . He also played FBI Special Agent Mike Casper on the NBC series The West Wing and Cam , the on-and-off boyfriend of Jack ( and client of Grace ) on the NBC series Will & Grace .


Wanda Sykes Wanda Sykes ( born March 7 , 1964 ) is an American actress , comedian and writer . She was first recognized for her work as a writer on The Chris Rock Show , for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award in 1999 . In 2004 , Entertainment Weekly named Sykes as one of the 25 funniest people in America . She is also known for her role as Barb Baran on CBS ' The New Adventures of Old Christine ( 2006 -- 10 ) and for appearances on HBO 's Curb Your Enthusiasm ( 2001 -- 11 ) .   Aside from her television appearances , Sykes has also had a career in film , appearing in Monster-in-Law ( 2005 ) , My Super Ex-Girlfriend ( 2006 ) , Evan Almighty ( 2007 ) and License to Wed ( 2007 ) , as well as voicing characters in the animated films Over the Hedge ( 2006 ) , Barnyard ( 2006 ) , Brother Bear 2 ( 2006 ) , Rio ( 2011 ) , Ice Age : Continental Drift ( 2012 ) and Ice Age : Collision Course ( 2016 ) .


Hamish Linklater Hamish Linklater ( born July 7 , 1976 ) is an American actor , known for playing Matthew Kimble in The New Adventures of Old Christine and Andrew Keanelly in The Crazy Ones . He is the son of dramatic vocal trainer Kristin Linklater .


Tupac is ranked as one of the greatest businessmen of all time.

Tupac Shakur Tupac Amaru Shakur ( -LSB- ˈtuːpɑːk_ʃəˈkʊər -RSB- ; born Lesane Parish Crooks ; June 16 , 1971September 13 , 1996 ) , also known by his stage names 2Pac , Makaveli , and Pac , was an American rapper , record producer , actor , and poet . As of 2007 , Shakur has sold over 75 million records worldwide . His double disc albums All Eyez on Me and his Greatest Hits are among the best-selling albums in the United States . He has been listed and ranked as one of the greatest artists of all time by many publications , including Rolling Stone , which ranked him 86th on its list of The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time . He is consistently ranked as one of the greatest and most influential rappers of all time . On April 7 , 2017 , Shakur was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame .   Shakur began his career as a roadie , backup dancer , and MC for the alternative hip hop group Digital Underground , eventually branching off as a solo artist . Most of the themes in Shakur 's songs revolved around the violence and hardship in inner cities , racism , and other social problems . Both of his parents and several other people in his family were members of the Black Panther Party , whose ideals were reflected in his songs . During the latter part of his career , Shakur was a vocal participant during the East Coast -- West Coast hip hop rivalry , becoming involved in conflicts with other rappers , producers , and record-label staff members , most notably The Notorious B.I.G. and the label Bad Boy Records .   On September 7 , 1996 , Shakur was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting at the intersection of Flamingo Road and Koval Lane in Las Vegas , Nevada . He was taken to the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada , where he died six days later .


Episodes of Sense8 were directed by frequent collaborators of the Wachowskis.

Sense8 Sense8 ( a play on the word sensate -LSB- ˈsɛnseɪt -RSB- ) is an American science fiction drama web television series created by Lana and Lilly Wachowski and J. Michael Straczynski for Netflix . The production companies behind Sense8 include the Wachowskis ' Anarchos Productions ( replaced by Lana and her wife 's Venus Castina Productions in the second season ) , Straczynski 's Studio JMS , and Georgeville Television , with Unpronounceable Productions having been set up specifically for this show .   The show 's first season introduced a multinational ensemble cast , with Aml Ameen , Doona Bae , Jamie Clayton , Tina Desai , Tuppence Middleton , Max Riemelt , Miguel Ángel Silvestre and Brian J. Smith portraying eight strangers from different parts of the world who suddenly become `` sensates '' ; human beings who are mentally and emotionally linked . Freema Agyeman , Terrence Mann , Anupam Kher , Naveen Andrews and Daryl Hannah also star . In the second season Toby Onwumere replaces Ameen . The show aims to explore subjects that its creators feel have not been emphasized in many science fiction shows to date , such as politics , identity , sexuality , gender and religion .   Each episode of Sense8 was written by the Wachowskis and Straczynski in the first season ; in the second season , Lilly Wachowski took a break from the show , and the scripts were written by just Lana Wachowski and Straczynski . Most of the episodes of the two seasons were directed by the Wachowskis ( or just Lana , in the second season ) , with the remainder being divided between their frequent collaborators James McTeigue , Tom Tykwer and Dan Glass . Lilly 's break during the second season marked the first time in the sisters ' career that they did not work together as a writing and directing unit . Sense8 is filmed almost entirely on location in a multitude of cities around the world .   The first season , consisting of 12 episodes , became available for streaming on Netflix on June 5 , 2015 , and was met with generally favorable critical reception . It became notable for its presentation of LGBT characters and themes , winning the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Drama Series . It has also been recognized with a Location Managers Guild award for its use of locations as an integral part of the story , and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music .   Netflix released the first episode of the second season , a two-hour Christmas special , on December 23 , 2016 ; the remaining 10 episodes of the season were released on May 5 , 2017 . The season was met with positive critical reception .


Homeland (TV series) Homeland is an American spy thriller television series developed by Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa based on the Israeli series Prisoners of War ( Original title חטופים Hatufim , literally `` Abductees '' ) , which was created by Gideon Raff .   The series stars Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison , a Central Intelligence Agency officer with bipolar disorder , and Damian Lewis as Nicholas Brody , a U.S. Marine Corps Scout Sniper . Mathison had come to believe that Brody , who was held captive by al-Qaeda as a prisoner of war , was `` turned '' by the enemy and poses a threat to the United States .   The series is broadcast in the U.S. on the cable channel Showtime , and is produced by Fox 21 Television Studios ( formerly Fox 21 ) . It premiered on October 2 , 2011 . The first episode was made available online , more than two weeks before the television broadcast , with viewers having to complete game tasks to gain access . On October 22 , 2013 , Showtime renewed Homeland for a fourth season , which premiered on October 5 , 2014 . On November 10 , 2014 , Showtime renewed the series for a 12-episode fifth season that premiered on October 4 , 2015 . On December 9 , 2015 , the series was renewed for a sixth season . The sixth season debuted on January 15 , 2017 . The series has also been renewed for a seventh and eighth season ; the eighth is planned to be the series ' final season by the creators .   The series has received generally positive reviews , and has won several awards , including the 2012 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series , and the 2011 and 2012 Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series -- Drama , as well as the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series and Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Damian Lewis and Claire Danes , respectively .


Sierra Leone gained independence from Britain.

Sierra Leone Sierra Leone ( -LSB- sɪˈɛərə_lɪˈəʊni , _ - lɪˈəʊn -RSB- ) , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone , is a country in West Africa . It is bordered by Guinea to the north-east , Liberia to the south-east , and the Atlantic Ocean to the south-west . Sierra Leone has a tropical climate , with a diverse environment ranging from savannah to rainforests . Sierra Leone has a total area of 71740 km2 and a population of 7,075,641 ( based on 2015 national census ) .   Sierra Leone is officially made up of four administrative regions : the Northern Province , Eastern Province , Southern Province and the Western Area , which are subdivided into fourteen districts . Each district has its own elected local government .   Freetown ( population 1,050,301 ) , located in the Western Area , is the capital , largest city and its economic and political centre . Bo ( population 306,000 ) , is the second largest city , and is located in the Southern Province , about 160 miles from Freetown . Kenema ( population 200,354 ) , located in the Eastern Province , is the third largest city and is about 190 miles from Freetown . Koidu Town ( population 128,074 ) , located in the diamond rich Kono District in the Eastern Province , is the fourth largest city , and is about 275 miles from Freetown . Makeni ( population 126,058 ) , located in the Northern Province , is the fifth largest of Sierra Leone 's five major cities , and is about 85 miles from Freetown .   Sierra Leone is a constitutional republic with a directly elected president and a unicameral legislature . Sierra Leone became an independent Nation on 27 April 1961 from Britain , led by Sir Milton Margai , who was elected by landslide as the first prime minister of the new nation under parliamentary government .   The current constitution of Sierra Leone was adopted in 1991 during the presidency of Joseph Saidu Momoh , though it has been amended several times . Since independence to present , Sierra Leone politics has been dominated by two major political parties ; the Sierra Leone People 's party ( SLPP ) and the All People 's Congress ( APC ) . The current president of SIerra Leone is Ernest Bai Koroma , a member of the APC party , who was elected in 2007 after defeating the ruling SLPP candidate , and he won reelection for his final term as president in 2012 .   From 1991 to 2002 , the Sierra Leone civil war was fought and devastated the country . This proxy war left more than 50,000 people dead , much of the country 's infrastructure destroyed , and over two million people displaced as refugees in neighbouring countries . In January 2002 , then Sierra Leone 's president Ahmad Tejan Kabbah , fulfilled his campaign promise by ending the civil war , with help by the British Government , ECOWAS and the United Nations .   More recently , the 2014 Ebola outbreak overburdened the weak healthcare infrastructure , leading to more deaths from medical neglect than Ebola itself . It created a humanitarian crisis situation and a negative spiral of weaker economic growth . The country has an extremely low life expectancy at 57.8 years .   About sixteen ethnic groups inhabit Sierra Leone , each with its own language and customs . The two largest and most influential are the Temne and the Mende people . The Temne are predominantly found in the north of the country , while the Mende are predominant in the south-east . Sierra Leone has a significant minority of the Krio people , who are descendants of freed African American and West Indian slaves .   Although English is the official language spoken at schools and government administration , the Krio language is the most widely spoken language across Sierra Leone and is spoken by 97 % of the country 's population . The Krio language unites all the different ethnic groups in the country , especially in their trade and social interaction with each other .   Sierra Leone is a predominantly secular Muslim majority country , with the overall muslim population at 77 % of the population , though with an influential Christian minority at about 22 % . Sierra Leone is regarded as one of the most religiously tolerant nations in the world . Muslims and Christians collaborate and interact with each other very peacefully . Religious violence is very rare in the country . The major Christian and Muslim holidays are officially national holidays including Christmas and Eid Al Fitr . In politics , the overwhelming majority of Sierra Leoneans vote for a candidate without regard to whether the candidate is a Muslim or a Christian .   Sierra Leone has relied on mining , especially diamonds , for its economic base . It is also among the largest producers of titanium and bauxite , a major producer of gold , and has one of the world 's largest deposits of rutile . Sierra Leone is home to the third-largest natural harbour in the world . Despite exploitation of this natural wealth , 70 % of its people live in poverty .   Sierra Leone is a member of many international organisations , including the United Nations , the African Union , the Economic Community of West African States ( ECOWAS ) , the Mano River Union , the Commonwealth of Nations , the African Development Bank , and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation .


Andy Roddick Andrew Stephen `` Andy '' Roddick ( born August 30 , 1982 ) is an American former professional tennis player .   He became a Grand Slam singles champion , and world number one , when he won the title at the 2003 US Open , defeating Juan Carlos Ferrero in the final . Despite several more years as one of the world 's best players that would remain his only Grand Slam triumph . He is the most recent North American male player to win a Grand Slam singles event , the most recent to reach the top ranking , and the most recent to claim the year-end world No. 1 ( 2003 ) . Roddick reached four other Grand Slam finals ( Wimbledon in 2004 , 2005 , and 2009 , and the US Open in 2006 ) , losing to Roger Federer every time . Roddick was ranked in the top 10 for nine consecutive years between 2002 and 2010 , at year 's end , and won five Masters Series in that period . He is married to Brooklyn Decker , a former Sports Illustrated swimwear model and actress .   On August 30 , 2012 , during the 2012 US Open and on his 30th birthday , Roddick announced that he would retire after the tournament . Following a fourth-round defeat by Juan Martín del Potro , Roddick retired from the sport with the aim of focusing on his foundation , the Andy Roddick Foundation , in future years .   In 2015 , Roddick played for the Austin Aces in World Team Tennis . This was his eighth season in World Team Tennis and the fifth team he has played for .


Daft Punk released their first album with a record label.

Virgin Records Virgin Records is a British-founded record label founded by English entrepreneurs Richard Branson , Simon Draper , Nik Powell , and musician Tom Newman in 1972 . The company grew to be a worldwide phenomenon over time , with the success of its platinum performers such as Janet Jackson , Roy Orbison , Devo , Genesis , Keith Richards , the Human League , Culture Club , Simple Minds , Lenny Kravitz , dc Talk , the Smashing Pumpkins , Mike Oldfield , Spice Girls and more on their list of artists . It was later sold to Thorn EMI in 1992 .   Currently wholly owned by Universal Music Group after its purchase of EMI in 2012 , UMG absorbed Virgin 's British operations , Virgin Records , Ltd. , to create Virgin EMI Records in March 2013 , which in turn absorbed Mercury Records ' UK operations .   Today , the operations of Virgin Records America , Inc. ( a unit of Virgin Records , Ltd. ) are still active and headquartered in Hollywood , California , as it operates exclusively under the Capitol Music Group since 2007 . A heavily minor amount of artists remain on Virgin Records America 's roster , which today is mostly occupied with European artists such as Bastille , Circa Waves , Corinne Bailey Rae , Ella Eyre , Grizfolk , Walking on Cars , Seinabo Sey , and Prides . US artists include Knox Hamilton , L'Tric and Rise Against .


Daft Punk Daft Punk are a French electronic music duo formed in 1993 by Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter . The duo achieved significant popularity in the late 1990s as part of the French house movement and had continuous success in the years following , combining elements of house music with funk , techno , disco , rock music and synthpop influences . They are also known for their visual stylization and disguises associated with their music ; the duo have worn ornate helmets and gloves to assume robot personas in most of their public appearances since 2001 and rarely grant interviews or appear on television . The duo were managed from 1996 to 2008 by Pedro Winter ( also known as Busy P ) , the head of Ed Banger Records .   Bangalter and de Homem-Christo were originally briefly in an indie rock band named Darlin ' . When the group disbanded , it left the two to experiment musically with drum machines and synthesisers . The duo released their debut studio album Homework through Virgin Records in 1997 to highly positive reviews . The duo 's next album Discovery ( 2001 ) was even more successful , driven by the release of the hit singles `` One More Time '' , `` Digital Love '' and `` Harder , Better , Faster , Stronger '' . In March 2005 , the duo released their third album Human After All to mixed reviews . However , the singles `` Robot Rock '' and `` Technologic '' achieved considerable success in the United Kingdom .   Daft Punk toured throughout 2006 and 2007 and released the live album Alive 2007 , which won a Grammy Award for Best Electronic/Dance Album . The duo later composed the score for the Disney film Tron : Legacy in 2010 , and released its soundtrack album that same year . In January 2013 , Daft Punk left Virgin for Columbia Records , and released their next album Random Access Memories in 2013 to worldwide critical acclaim . The album 's lead single `` Get Lucky '' became an international success , peaking on top 10 charts in 32 countries . Random Access Memories won five Grammy Awards in 2014 , including Album of the Year and Record of the Year for `` Get Lucky '' . Daft Punk later gained their first number one on the Billboard Hot 100 with the song `` Starboy '' , a collaboration with The Weeknd .


Azerbaijan Azerbaijan ( -LSB- æzərbaɪˈʒɑːn -RSB- ; Azərbaycan ) , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan ( Azərbaycan Respublikası ) , is a country in the South Caucasus region , situated at the crossroads of Southwest Asia and Southeastern Europe . It is bound by the Caspian Sea to the east , Russia to the north , Georgia to the northwest , Armenia to the west and Iran to the south . The exclave of Nakhchivan is bound by Armenia to the north and east , Iran to the south and west , while having an 11 km border with Turkey in the north west .   The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic proclaimed its independence in 1918 and became the first democratic state in the Muslim orient world . The country was incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1920 as the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic . The modern Republic of Azerbaijan proclaimed its independence on 30 August 1991 , prior to the official dissolution of the USSR in December 1991 . In September 1991 , the Armenian majority of the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region seceded to form the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic . The region and seven adjacent districts outside it became de facto independent with the end of the Nagorno-Karabakh War in 1994 . These regions are internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan pending a solution to the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh , found through negotiations facilitated by the OSCE .   Azerbaijan is a unitary semi-presidential republic . The country is a member state of the Council of Europe , the OSCE and the NATO Partnership for Peace ( PfP ) program . It is one of six independent Turkic states , an active member of the Turkic Council and the TÜRKSOY community . Azerbaijan has diplomatic relations with 158 countries and holds membership in 38 international organizations . It is one of the founding members of GUAM , the Commonwealth of Independent States ( CIS ) and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons . A member of the United Nations since 1992 after its independence , Azerbaijan was elected to membership in the newly established Human Rights Council by the United Nations General Assembly on 9 May 2006 . Its term of office began on 19 June 2006 . Azerbaijan is also a member state of the Non-Aligned Movement , holds observer status in World Trade Organization and is a correspondent at the International Telecommunication Union .   The Constitution of Azerbaijan does not declare an official religion and all major political forces in the country are secularist . However , the majority of the population are of a Shiite Muslim background . Most Azerbaijanis however , do not actively practice any religion , and the country has been seen to be one of the most irreligious countries in the Muslim world , with 53 % stating religion has little to no importance in their lives , according to Pew Research Center and Gallup polls . Azerbaijan has a high level of human development which ranks on par with most Eastern European countries . It has a high rate of economic development and literacy , as well as a low rate of unemployment . According to the Davos World Economic Forum , Azerbaijan 's economy has scored 37th place within 138 countries in 2016 . Global Competitiveness Index 2015 indicates that Azerbaijan scores highest in its region .   ASAN services , established with Presidential Decree , are countrywide known for eliminating bribery and corruption in the provision of public services . ASAN Service has been awarded with United Nations ' Public Service Award 2015 , which is the most prestigious award in the world in the field of public service delivery .   The ruling party , the New Azerbaijan Party , has been accused of authoritarianism and human rights abuses .


The Promise's American release was by an American film company.

Open Road Films Open Road Films ( or simply Open Road ) is an American film production and distribution company based in Los Angeles , California . It was launched in March 2011 by the two largest U.S. theatrical exhibitors , AMC Theatres and Regal Entertainment Group .


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


The Emoji Movie will be released by Columbia Pictures.

The Emoji Movie The Emoji Movie is an upcoming 2017 American 3D computer-animated buddy adventure comedy film written and directed by Tony Leondis and co-written by Eric Siegel and Mike White . It will star the voices of T.J. Miller , Anna Faris , James Corden , Patrick Stewart , Maya Rudolph , Steven Wright , Rob Riggle , Jennifer Coolidge , Jake T. Austin , Sofia Vergara , and Christina Aguilera . Produced by Sony Pictures Animation , the film is scheduled to be released on July 28 , 2017 , by Columbia Pictures .


A Wrinkle in Time was directed by Ava Duvernay.

A Wrinkle in Time (2018 film) A Wrinkle in Time is an upcoming American fantasy adventure film directed by Ava DuVernay and written by Jennifer Lee . It is based on the 1962 novel of the same name by Madeleine L'Engle . The film stars Storm Reid , Reese Witherspoon , Mindy Kaling , Levi Miller , Deric McCabe , Chris Pine , Gugu Mbatha-Raw , Michael Peña , Zach Galifianakis , and Oprah Winfrey . Principal photography on the film began on November 2 , 2016 in Los Angeles , California .   The film is scheduled to be released on March 9 , 2018 in IMAX .


A Wrinkle in Time A Wrinkle in Time is a science fantasy novel written by American writer Madeleine L'Engle , first published in 1963 , and in 1979 with illustrations by Leo and Diane Dillon . The book won a Newbery Medal , Sequoyah Book Award , and Lewis Carroll Shelf Award , and was runner-up for the Hans Christian Andersen Award . It is the first book in L'Engle 's Time Quintet , which follows the Murry and O'Keefe families . The book was made into a film , A Wrinkle in Time , in 2003 , and another film , also called A Wrinkle in Time , is in production with a scheduled release of April 2018 . It has also been made into an opera , a graphic novel , and several plays .


Red Headed Stranger is a Willie Nelson album.

Red Headed Stranger Red Headed Stranger is a 1975 album by American outlaw country singer Willie Nelson . After the wide success of his recordings with Atlantic Records , coupled with the negotiating skills of his manager , Neil Reshen , Nelson signed a contract with Columbia Records , a label that gave him total creative control over his works . The concept for the album was inspired by the `` Tale of the Red Headed Stranger '' , a song that Nelson used to play as a disk jockey on his program in Fort Worth , Texas . After signing with Columbia he decided to record the song , and arranged the details during his return to Austin , Texas , from a trip to Colorado . It was recorded at low cost at Autumn Sound Studios in Garland , Texas . The songs featured sparse arrangements , largely limited to Nelson 's guitar , piano and drums . Nelson presented the finished material to Columbia executives , who were dubious about releasing an album that they at first thought was a demo . However , Nelson had creative control , so no further production was added .   A concept album , Red Headed Stranger is about a fugitive on the run from the law after killing his wife and her lover . The content consists of songs with brief poetic lyrics and arrangements of older material such as Fred Rose 's `` Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain '' , Wolfe Gilbert 's `` Down Yonder '' and Juventino Rosas ' `` O'er the Waves '' . Despite Columbia 's doubts and the limited instrumentation , Red Headed Stranger was a blockbuster among country music and mainstream audiences . It was certified multi-platinum , and made Nelson one of the most recognized artists in country music . The cover of `` Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain '' , released as a single previous to the album full release became Nelson 's first number one hit . The title of the album would become a lasting nickname for Nelson . It was ranked # 183 on Rolling Stones list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time , and number one on CMT 's 40 Greatest Albums in Country Music . In 2010 it was inducted to the National Recording Registry .   In 1986 Nelson starred as the Red Headed Stranger in a movie of the same name , based on the story of the album . The album has had a strong cultural impact ; the song `` Time of the Preacher '' has been used often in the series Edge of Darkness , and its lyrics were used as well in the first issue of the comic Preacher .


Norway has existed continuously for one million years.

Norway Norway ( -LSB- Norgehelp = no -RSB- ( Bokmål ) or ( Nynorsk ) ) , officially the Kingdom of Norway , is a sovereign state and unitary monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula plus the island Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard . The Antarctic Peter I Island and the sub-Antarctic Bouvet Island are dependent territories and thus not considered part of the Kingdom . Norway also lays claim to a section of Antarctica known as Queen Maud Land . Until 1814 , the kingdom included the Faroe Islands , Greenland and Iceland . It also included Bohuslän until 1658 , Jämtland and Härjedalen until 1645 , Shetland and Orkney until 1468 , and the Hebrides and Isle of Man until 1266 .   Norway has a total area of 385252 km2 and a population of 5,258,317 ( as of January 2017 ) . The country shares a long eastern border with Sweden ( 1,619 km or 1,006 mi long ) . Norway is bordered by Finland and Russia to the north-east , and the Skagerrak Strait to the south , with Denmark on the other side . Norway has an extensive coastline , facing the North Atlantic Ocean and the Barents Sea .   King Harald V of the Dano-German House of Glücksburg is the current King of Norway . Erna Solberg became Prime Minister in 2013 , replacing Jens Stoltenberg . A constitutional monarchy , Norway divides state power between the Parliament , the Cabinet and the Supreme Court , as determined by the 1814 Constitution . The kingdom is established as a merger of several petty kingdoms . By the traditional count from the year 872 , the kingdom has existed continuously for 1,144 years and the list of Norwegian monarchs includes over sixty kings and earls .   Norway has both administrative and political subdivisions on two levels : counties and municipalities . The Sámi people have a certain amount of self-determination and influence over traditional territories through the Sámi Parliament and the Finnmark Act . Norway maintains close ties with the European Union and the United States . Norway is a founding member of the United Nations , NATO , the Council of Europe , the Antarctic Treaty and the Nordic Council ; a member of the European Economic Area , the WTO and the OECD ; and is also a part of the Schengen Area .   The country maintains a combination of market economy and a Nordic welfare model with universal health care and a comprehensive social security system . Norway has extensive reserves of petroleum , natural gas , minerals , lumber , seafood , fresh water and hydropower . The petroleum industry accounts for around a quarter of the country 's gross domestic product ( GDP ) . On a per-capita basis , Norway is the world 's largest producer of oil and natural gas outside the Middle East .   The country has the fourth-highest per capita income in the world on the World Bank and IMF lists . On the CIA 's GDP ( PPP ) per capita list ( 2015 estimate ) which includes territories and some regions , Norway ranks as number eleven . From 2001 to 2006 , and then again from 2009 to 2017 , Norway had the highest Human Development Index ranking in the world . It also has the highest inequality-adjusted ranking . Norway ranks first on the World Happiness Report , the OECD Better Life Index , the Index of Public Integrity and the Democracy Index .


Howard Hughes was a maverick film tycoon.

Howard Hughes Howard Robard Hughes Jr. ( December 24 , 1905 -- April 5 , 1976 ) was an American businessman , investor , pilot , film director , and philanthropist , known during his lifetime as one of the most financially successful individuals in the world . He first made a name for himself as a film producer , and then became an influential figure in the aviation industry . Later in life , he became known for his eccentric behavior and reclusive lifestyle -- oddities that were caused in part by a worsening obsessive -- compulsive disorder ( OCD ) and chronic pain from a plane crash .   As a maverick film tycoon , Hughes gained prominence in Hollywood beginning in the late 1920s , when he produced big-budget and often controversial films like The Racket ( 1928 ) , Hell 's Angels ( 1930 ) , and Scarface ( 1932 ) . Later he controlled the RKO film studio .   Hughes formed the Hughes Aircraft Company in 1932 , hiring numerous engineers and designers . He spent the rest of the 1930s setting multiple world air speed records and building the Hughes H-1 Racer and H-4 Hercules ( the `` Spruce Goose '' ) . He acquired and expanded Trans World Airlines and later acquired Air West , renaming it Hughes Airwest . Hughes was included in Flying Magazine 's list of the 51 Heroes of Aviation , ranked at 25 . Today , his legacy is maintained through the Howard Hughes Medical Institute .


Screenwriter Jason Sudeikis is an American born citizen.

Jason Sudeikis Daniel Jason Sudeikis ( -LSB- sʊˈdeɪkɪs -RSB- ; born September 18 , 1975 ) is an American actor , comedian , screenwriter , and producer . He began his career in improvisational comedy and was a member of The Second City . In 2003 , he was hired as a sketch writer for Saturday Night Live and was a cast member from 2005 to 2013 .   He has appeared on the television shows 30 Rock , The Cleveland Show , Eastbound & Down , The Last Man on Earth , Son of Zorn , and other shows . He is best known for his film roles in Hall Pass ( 2011 ) , A Good Old Fashioned Orgy ( 2011 ) , Horrible Bosses ( 2011 ) , We 're the Millers ( 2013 ) , Horrible Bosses 2 ( 2014 ) , Sleeping with Other People ( 2015 ) , The Angry Birds Movie ( 2016 ) , and Colossal ( 2017 ) .


Tony Bill directed anything except Five Corners.

Tony Bill Gerard Anthony `` Tony '' Bill ( born August 23 , 1940 ) is an American actor , producer , and director . He produced the 1973 movie The Sting , for which he shared the Academy Award for Best Picture with Michael Phillips and Julia Phillips . As an actor , Bill has had supporting roles in films including Come Blow Your Horn ( 1963 ) , Shampoo ( 1975 ) , Pee-Wee 's Big Adventure ( 1985 ) , and Less Than Zero ( 1987 ) . He made his directorial debut with My Bodyguard ( 1980 ) , and has since directed movies like Six Weeks ( 1982 ) , Five Corners ( 1987 ) , Crazy People ( 1990 ) , and Flyboys ( 2006 ) . He often casts Dudley Moore in his films .


Michael Jordan Michael Jeffrey Jordan ( born February 17 , 1963 ) , also known by his initials , MJ , is an American retired professional basketball player , businessman , and principal owner and chairman of the Charlotte Hornets . Jordan played 15 seasons in the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) for the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards . His biography on the NBA website states : `` By acclamation , Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time . '' Jordan was one of the most effectively marketed athletes of his generation and was considered instrumental in popularizing the NBA around the world in the 1980s and 1990s .   Jordan played three seasons for coach Dean Smith at the University of North Carolina . As a freshman , he was a member of the Tar Heels ' national championship team in 1982 . Jordan joined the Bulls in 1984 as the third overall draft pick . He quickly emerged as a league star , entertaining crowds with his prolific scoring . His leaping ability , demonstrated by performing slam dunks from the free throw line in slam dunk contests , earned him the nicknames Air Jordan and His Airness . He also gained a reputation for being one of the best defensive players in basketball . In 1991 , he won his first NBA championship with the Bulls , and followed that achievement with titles in 1992 and 1993 , securing a `` three-peat '' . Although Jordan abruptly retired from basketball before the beginning of the 1993 -- 94 NBA season to pursue a new venture in minor league baseball , he returned to the Bulls in March 1995 and led them to three additional championships in 1996 , 1997 , and 1998 , as well as a then-record 72 regular-season wins in the 1995 -- 96 NBA season . Jordan retired for a second time in January 1999 , but returned for two more NBA seasons from 2001 to 2003 as a member of the Wizards .   Jordan 's individual accolades and accomplishments include five Most Valuable Player ( MVP ) Awards , ten All-NBA First Team designations , nine All-Defensive First Team honors , fourteen NBA All-Star Game appearances , three All-Star Game MVP Awards , ten scoring titles , three steals titles , six NBA Finals MVP Awards , and the 1988 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award . Among his numerous accomplishments , Jordan holds the NBA records for highest career regular season scoring average ( 30.12 points per game ) and highest career playoff scoring average ( 33.45 points per game ) . In 1999 , he was named the greatest North American athlete of the 20th century by ESPN , and was second to Babe Ruth on the Associated Press 's list of athletes of the century . Jordan is a two-time inductee into the Basketball Hall of Fame , having been enshrined in 2009 for his individual career , and again in 2010 as part of the group induction of the 1992 United States men 's Olympic basketball team ( `` The Dream Team '' ) . He became a member of the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2015 .   Jordan is also known for his product endorsements . He fueled the success of Nike 's Air Jordan sneakers , which were introduced in 1985 and remain popular today . Jordan also starred in the 1996 feature film Space Jam as himself . In 2006 , he became part-owner and head of basketball operations for the then-Charlotte Bobcats , buying a controlling interest in 2010 . In 2015 , Jordan became the first billionaire NBA player in history as a result of the increase in value of NBA franchises . He is the third-richest African-American , behind Oprah Winfrey and Robert F. Smith .


The 1992 Los Angeles riots occurred in California.

1992 Los Angeles riots The 1992 Los Angeles riots , also known as the Rodney King riots , the South Central riots , the 1992 Los Angeles civil disturbance , the 1992 Los Angeles civil unrest , and the Los Angeles uprising , were a series of riots , lootings , arsons , and civil disturbances that occurred in Los Angeles County , California in April and May 1992 . The unrest began in South Central Los Angeles on April 29 after a trial jury acquitted four officers of the Los Angeles Police Department of the use of excessive force in the videotaped arrest and beating of Rodney King . It then spread throughout the Los Angeles metropolitan area as thousands of people rioted over a six-day period following the announcement of the verdict .   Widespread looting , assault , arson , and killings occurred during the riots , and estimates of property damage were over $ 1 billion . Order was only restored after members of the California Army National Guard , the 7th Infantry Division , and the 1st Marine Division were called in to stop the rioting when local police could not control the situation . In total , 58 people were killed during the riots , more than 2,000 people were injured , and more than 11,000 were arrested . LAPD chief of police Daryl Gates , who had already announced his resignation by the time of the riots , took much of the institutional blame .


Winona Ryder has been in a movie with Johnny Depp.

Winona Ryder Winona Ryder ( born Winona Laura Horowitz ; October 29 , 1971 ) is an American actress . One of the most profitable and iconic actresses of the 1990s , she made her film debut in the 1986 film Lucas . As Lydia Deetz , a goth teenager in Tim Burton 's Beetlejuice ( 1988 ) , she won critical acclaim and widespread recognition . After appearances in film and on television , Ryder continued her acting career with the cult film Heathers ( 1988 ) , a controversial satire of teenage suicide and high school life that has since become a landmark teen film . She later appeared in the coming of age drama Mermaids ( 1990 ) , earning a Golden Globe nomination , and in the same year appeared alongside Johnny Depp in Burton 's dark fairy-tale Edward Scissorhands ( 1990 ) , and shortly thereafter with Keanu Reeves in Francis Ford Coppola 's gothic romance Bram Stoker 's Dracula ( 1992 ) .   Having played diverse roles in many well-received films in the mid to late 1980s and early 1990s , Ryder won a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress and an Academy Award nomination in the same category for her role in The Age of Innocence in 1993 , as well as another Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her role in the literary adaptation of Little Women the following year . She later appeared in the Generation X hit Reality Bites ( 1994 ) , Alien : Resurrection ( 1997 ) , the Woody Allen comedy Celebrity ( 1998 ) , and Girl , Interrupted ( 1999 ) , which she also executive-produced . In 2000 , Ryder received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame , honoring her legacy in the film industry .   Ryder 's personal life has attracted significant media attention . Her relationship with Johnny Depp in the early 1990s and a 2001 arrest for shoplifting were constant subjects of tabloid journalism . She has been open about her personal struggles with anxiety and depression .   In 2002 , she appeared in the box office hit Mr. Deeds alongside Adam Sandler . In 2006 , Ryder returned to the screen after a brief hiatus , appearing in high-profile films such as Star Trek . In 2010 , she was nominated for two Screen Actors Guild Awards : as the lead actress in When Love Is Not Enough : The Lois Wilson Story and as part of the cast of Black Swan . She also reunited with Burton for Frankenweenie ( 2012 ) . Since 2016 , she has starred as Joyce Byers in the Netflix supernatural-horror series Stranger Things , for which she has garnered Golden Globe and SAG nominations .


Paul Simon has an honorary degree from the largest independent college of classical music in the world.

Berklee College of Music Berklee College of Music , located in Boston , Massachusetts , United States , is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world . Known for the study of jazz and modern American music , it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles , including rock , flamenco , hip hop , reggae , salsa , and bluegrass . Since 2012 , Berklee College of Music has also operated a campus in Valencia , Spain .   In December 2015 , Berklee College of Music and the Boston Conservatory agreed to a merger . The combined institution will be known as `` Berklee '' , with the conservatory becoming `` The Boston Conservatory at Berklee '' .


Paul Simon Paul Frederic Simon ( born October 13 , 1941 ) is an American musician , singer-songwriter and actor . Simon 's fame , influence , and commercial success began as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel , formed in 1964 with musical partner Art Garfunkel . Simon wrote nearly all of the pair 's songs , including three that reached No. 1 on the U.S. singles charts : `` The Sound of Silence '' , `` Mrs. Robinson '' , and `` Bridge over Troubled Water '' .   The duo split up in 1970 at the height of their popularity and Simon began a successful solo career as a guitarist and singer-songwriter , recording three highly acclaimed albums over the next five years . In 1986 , he released Graceland , an album inspired by South African township music , which sold 14 million copies worldwide on its release and remains his most popular solo work . Simon also wrote and starred in the film One-Trick Pony ( 1980 ) and co-wrote the Broadway musical The Capeman ( 1998 ) with the poet Derek Walcott . On June 3 , 2016 , Simon released his 13th solo album , titled Stranger to Stranger , which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Album Chart and the UK charts .   Simon has earned sixteen Grammys for his solo and collaborative work , including three for Album of the Year ( Bridge Over Troubled Water , Still Crazy After All These Years , Graceland ) , and a Lifetime Achievement Award . In 2001 , he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in 2006 was selected as one of the `` 100 People Who Shaped the World '' by Time magazine . In 2011 , Rolling Stone magazine named Simon as one of the 100 Greatest Guitarists . In 2015 , he was named as one of the 100 Greatest Songwriters by Rolling Stone . Among many other honors , Simon was the first recipient of the Library of Congress 's Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in 2007 . In 1986 , Simon was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music , where he currently serves on the Board of Trustees .


The Night Of The Night Of is an American eight-part crime drama television miniseries based on Criminal Justice , a 2008 -- 09 British television series . The miniseries was written by Richard Price and Steven Zaillian and directed by Zaillian and James Marsh . Broadcast on HBO , The Night Of premiered on July 10 , 2016 to critical acclaim . The first episode premiered on June 24 , 2016 , via HBO on-demand .


Reese Witherspoon's received a Golden Globe nomination.

Reese Witherspoon Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon ( -LSB- ˈriːs_ˈwɪðərspuːn -RSB- born March 22 , 1976 ) is an American actress , producer , and entrepreneur . Born in New Orleans and raised in Tennessee , she began her career as a child actress , making her professional screen debut in The Man in the Moon ( 1991 ) , for which she was nominated for a Young Artist Award . Following breakout roles in Desperate Choices : To Save My Child ( 1992 ) and Jack the Bear , she starred in the comedy-drama Pleasantville ( 1998 ) , for which she won the Young Hollywood Award for Breakthrough Performance . Her leading role of Tracy Flick in Election ( 1999 ) was nominated for a Golden Globe Award .   Witherspoon 's breakthrough role was playing Elle Woods in the 2001 film Legally Blonde , for which she received her second Golden Globe nomination . The following year , she starred in the romantic comedy Sweet Home Alabama , which emerged as her biggest live-action commercial success . In 2005 , she portrayed June Carter in Walk the Line , which earned her the Academy Award , Golden Globe Award , BAFTA Award , Screen Actors Guild Award , and Critics Choice Award for Best Actress . Other notable films of hers include Legally Blonde 2 : Red , White & Blonde ( 2003 ) , Monsters vs. Aliens ( 2009 ) , Water for Elephants ( 2011 ) , and Sing ( 2016 ) . In 2014 , Witherspoon produced the thriller Gone Girl and received critical acclaim for portraying Cheryl Strayed in Wild , for which she earned her second Academy Award nomination for Best Actress and a fourth Golden Globe nomination . In 2017 , she produced and starred in the HBO drama series Big Little Lies .   Witherspoon owns a production company , Pacific Standard , and she is actively involved in children 's and women 's advocacy organizations . She serves on the board of the Children 's Defense Fund ( CDF ) and was named Global Ambassador of Avon Products in 2007 , serving as honorary chair of the charitable Avon Foundation . She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010 .


Tyne Daly performed in the play Rabbit Hole.

Tyne Daly Ellen Tyne Daly ( born February 21 , 1946 ) is an American stage and screen actress . She has won six Emmy Awards for her television work and a Tony Award , and is a 2011 American Theatre Hall of Fame inductee .   Daly began her career on stage in summer stock in New York , and made her Broadway debut in the play That Summer -- That Fall in 1967 . She is best known for her television role as Detective Mary Beth Lacey in Cagney & Lacey ( 1982 -- 88 ) , for which she is a four-time Emmy Award winner as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series . In 1989 , she starred in the Broadway revival of Gypsy and won the 1990 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical .   Her other TV roles include Alice Henderson in Christy ( 1994 -- 95 ) , for which she won an Emmy in 1996 and Maxine Gray in Judging Amy ( 1999 -- 2005 ) , which won her a sixth Emmy in 2003 . Her other Broadway credits include The Seagull ( 1992 ) , her Tony-nominated role in Rabbit Hole ( 2006 ) and her Tony-nominated role in Mothers and Sons ( 2014 ) . She played Maria Callas , both on Broadway and in London 's West End , in the play Master Class ( 2011 -- 12 ) .


The Apple Store originally opened in the 21st century.

Apple Store Apple Store is a chain of retail stores owned and operated by Apple Inc. . The stores sell Mac personal computers , iPhone smartphones , iPad tablet computers , iPod portable media players , Apple Watch smartwatches , Apple TV digital media players , software , and select third-party accessories .   The first Apple Stores were originally opened as two locations in May 2001 by then-CEO Steve Jobs , after years of attempting but failing store-within-a-store concepts . Seeing a need for improved retail presentation of the company 's products , he began an effort in 1997 to revamp the retail program to get an improved relationship to consumers , and hired Ron Johnson in 2000 . Jobs relaunched Apple 's online store in 1997 , and opened the first two physical stores in 2001 . Despite initial media speculation that Apple would fail , its stores were highly successful , bypassing the sales numbers of competing nearby stores and within three years reached US$ 1 billion in annual sales , becoming the fastest retailer in history to do so . Over the years , Apple has expanded the number of retail locations and its geographical coverage , with 496 stores across 21 countries worldwide as of May 2017 . Strong product sales have placed Apple among the top-tier retail stores , with sales over $ 16 billion globally in 2011 .   In May 2016 , Angela Ahrendts , Apple 's current Senior Vice President of Retail , unveiled a significantly redesigned Apple Store in Union Square , San Francisco , featuring large glass doors for the entry , open spaces , and rebranded rooms . In addition to purchasing products , consumers can get advice and help from `` Creative Pros '' - individuals with specialized knowledge of creative arts ; get product support in a tree-lined Genius Grove ; and attend sessions , conferences and community events , with Ahrendts commenting that the goal is to make Apple Stores into `` town squares '' , a place where people naturally meet up and spend time . The new design will be applied to all Apple Stores worldwide , a process that has seen stores temporarily relocate or close .   Many Apple Stores are located inside shopping malls , but Apple has built several stand-alone `` flagship '' stores in high-profile locations . It has been granted design patents and received architectural awards for its stores ' designs and construction , specifically for its use of glass staircases and cubes . The success of Apple Stores have had significant influence over other consumer electronics retailers , who have lost traffic , control and profits due to a perceived higher quality of service and products at Apple Stores . Apple 's notable brand loyalty have historically caused long lines of hundreds of people at new Apple Store openings or product releases . Due to the popularity of the brand , there are numerous job applications , many of which from young workers . Although Apple Store employees receive above-average pay , are offered money toward education and health care , and receive product discounts , there are limited or no paths of career advancement . A May 2016 report with an anonymous retail employee highlighted a hostile work environment with harassment from customers , intense internal criticism , and a lack of significant bonuses for securing major business contracts .


Keeping Up with the Joneses (film) Keeping Up with the Joneses is a 2016 American action comedy film directed by Greg Mottola and written by Michael LeSieur . Starring Zach Galifianakis , Jon Hamm , Isla Fisher and Gal Gadot , the film follows a suburban couple ( Galifianakis and Fisher ) who begin to suspect their new neighbors ( Hamm and Gadot ) are secret agents . The film was released on October 21 , 2016 by 20th Century Fox , received generally negative reviews and was a box office bomb , grossing $ 29 million against its $ 40 million budget .


Ricin Ricin ( -LSB- ˈraɪsɪn -RSB- ) is a highly toxic , naturally occurring lectin ( a carbohydrate-binding protein ) produced in the seeds of the castor oil plant , Ricinus communis . A dose of purified ricin powder the size of a few grains of table salt can kill an adult human . The median lethal dose ( LD50 ) of ricin is around 22 micrograms per kilogram of body weight if the exposure is from injection or inhalation ( 1.78 milligram for an average adult ) . Oral exposure to ricin is far less toxic as some of the poison is inactivated in the stomach . An estimated lethal oral dose in humans is approximately 1 milligram per kilogram .


In the US, the Democrats have a caucus in the House of Representatives.

Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States , along with the Republican Party . Tracing its heritage back to Thomas Jefferson and James Madison 's Democratic-Republican Party , the modern-day Democratic Party was founded around 1828 by Andrew Jackson , making it the world 's oldest active party .   The Democrats ' dominant worldview was once social conservativism and economic liberalism , while , especially in the rural South , populism was its leading characteristic . In 1912 , Theodore Roosevelt ran as a third-party candidate in the Progressive ( `` Bull Moose '' ) Party , leading to a switch of political platforms between the Democratic and Republican Party and Woodrow Wilson being elected as the first fiscally progressive Democrat . Since Franklin D. Roosevelt and his New Deal coalition in the 1930s , the Democratic Party has also promoted a social-liberal platform , supporting social justice .   Today , the House Democratic caucus is composed mostly of progressives and centrists , with a smaller minority of conservative Democrats . The party 's philosophy of modern liberalism advocates social and economic equality , along with the welfare state . It seeks to provide government intervention and regulation in the economy . These interventions , such as the introduction of social programs , support for labor unions , affordable college tuitions , moves toward universal health care and equal opportunity , consumer protection , and environmental protection form the core of the party 's economic policy . The party has united with smaller liberal regional parties throughout the country , such as the Farmer -- Labor Party in Minnesota and the Nonpartisan League in North Dakota .   Well into the 20th century , the party had conservative pro-business and southern conservative-populist anti-business wings . The New Deal Coalition of 1932 -- 1964 attracted strong support from voters of recent European extraction -- many of whom were Catholics based in the cities . After Franklin D. Roosevelt 's New Deal of the 1930s , the pro-business wing withered outside the South . After the racial turmoil of the 1960s , most southern whites and many northern Catholics moved into the Republican Party at the presidential level . The once-powerful labor union element became smaller and less supportive after the 1970s . White Evangelicals and Southerners became heavily Republican at the state and local level in the 1990s . Racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S. such as ( but not limited to ) Jewish Americans , Hispanic Americans , Arabic Americans , and African Americans , tend to support the Democratic Party in proportions higher than their overall representation in American society . Overall , the Democratic Party has retained a membership lead over its major rival the Republican Party ( GOP ) .   15 Democrats have served as president under 16 administrations : the first was seventh president Andrew Jackson , who served from 1829 to 1837 ; Grover Cleveland served two nonconsecutive terms from 1885 to 1889 and 1893 to 1897 , and is thus counted twice ( as the 22nd and 24th president ) . The most recent was the 44th president Barack Obama , who held the office from 2009 to 2017 .   In the 115th Congress , following the 2016 elections , Democrats are the opposition party , holding a minority of seats in both the House of Representatives and the Senate . The party also holds a minority of governorships ( 16/50 ) , and state legislatures ( full control of 12/50 , split control of six others ) , though they do control the mayoralty of cities such as New York City , Los Angeles , Chicago , Houston , and Washington , D.C.


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


American Idiot includes the individual song "Holiday."

American Idiot American Idiot is the seventh studio album by American rock band Green Day . Produced by Rob Cavallo , the album was released in the UK on September 20 , 2004 and in the US on September 21 , 2004 by Reprise Records . Green Day first achieved popularity in the 1990s with a string of successful albums . Following disappointing sales of their sixth album , Warning ( 2000 ) , the band took a break before recording their next album , titled Cigarettes and Valentines . The recording process was cut short when the album 's master tapes were stolen . Rather than re-record that material , the group decided to start over .   A concept album and the world 's first `` punk rock opera , '' American Idiot follows the story of Jesus of Suburbia , an adolescent anti-hero who is divided between `` rage and love . '' Through its plot , the album expresses the disillusionment and dissent of a generation that came of age in a period shaped by many tumultuous events like the Iraq War . The album was inspired by several musicals and the work of The Who . Recording of American Idiot was split between two California studios between 2003 and 2004 . Its album art depicts a heart-shaped hand grenade .   American Idiot marked a career comeback for Green Day following a period of decreased success . It charted in 27 countries , peaking at number one in 19 , and eventually sold 16 million copies worldwide . The album spawned five successful singles : `` American Idiot '' , `` Boulevard of Broken Dreams '' , `` Holiday '' , `` Wake Me Up When September Ends '' and `` Jesus of Suburbia '' . American Idiot was well received critically and won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album in 2005 . Its success inspired a Broadway musical and an incomplete feature film adaptation . It has been praised in the years following its release , appearing on several year-end and decade-end lists .


Steve Buscemi starred in the city Trees Lounge.

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


Trees Lounge Trees Lounge is a 1996 feature film and the debut of Steve Buscemi as writer and director . It was produced by Brad Wyman and Chris Hanley and features a large ensemble cast of actors , including Buscemi , Anthony LaPaglia , Chloë Sevigny , and Samuel L. Jackson . The film 's black humor , based on examination of characters ' self-destructive behavior , has been cited as an influence by The Sopranos creator David Chase , who later hired Buscemi to direct `` Pine Barrens '' and three other episodes of the show , and to star as Tony Soprano 's cousin Tony Blundetto during the show 's fifth season .   It was filmed in Glendale , Queens ; Brooklyn ; and Valley Stream , New York .


Green Day Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1986 by lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong and bassist Mike Dirnt . For much of the group 's career , the band has been a trio with drummer Tré Cool , who replaced former drummer John Kiffmeyer in 1990 prior to the recording of the band 's second studio album , Kerplunk ( 1991 ) . Guitarist Jason White , who has worked with the band as a touring member since 1999 , was an official member from 2012 to 2016 .   Green Day was originally part of the punk scene at the DIY 924 Gilman Street club in Berkeley , California . The band 's early releases were with the independent record label Lookout ! Records . In 1994 , its major label debut Dookie ( released through Reprise Records ) became a breakout success and eventually shipped over 10 million copies in the U.S. Green Day was widely credited , alongside fellow California punk bands Sublime , Bad Religion , The Offspring , and Rancid , with popularizing and reviving mainstream interest in punk rock in the United States .   Green Day 's three follow-up albums , Insomniac ( 1995 ) , Nimrod ( 1997 ) , and Warning ( 2000 ) did not achieve the massive success of Dookie , though they were still successful , with Insomniac and Nimrod reaching double platinum and Warning achieving platinum status . The band 's rock opera , American Idiot ( 2004 ) , reignited the band 's popularity with a younger generation , selling six million copies in the U.S. . The band 's eighth studio album , 21st Century Breakdown , was released in 2009 and achieved the band 's best chart performance to date . 21st Century Breakdown was followed up by a trilogy of albums called ¡ Uno ! , ¡ Dos ! , and ¡ Tré ! , which were released in September , November and December 2012 respectively . The band 's twelfth studio album , Revolution Radio was released on October 7 , 2016 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 , their third album to do so .   Green Day has sold more than 85 million records worldwide . The group has won five Grammy Awards : Best Alternative Album for Dookie , Best Rock Album for American Idiot , Record of the Year for `` Boulevard of Broken Dreams '' , Best Rock Album for the second time for 21st Century Breakdown and Best Musical Show Album for American Idiot : The Original Broadway Cast Recording . In 2010 , a stage adaptation of American Idiot debuted on Broadway . The musical was nominated for three Tony Awards : Best Musical , Best Scenic Design and Best Lighting Design , losing only the first . Also in 2010 , Green Day was ranked no. 91 in the VH1 list of the `` 100 Greatest Artists of All Time '' . On April 18 , 2015 , the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a part of the 2015 class in their first year of eligibility .


Google Home Google Home is a smart speaker developed by Google . It was announced in May 2016 and released in the United States in November 2016 , with a release in the United Kingdom in April 2017 , followed by Australia , Canada , France , Germany , and Japan in summer 2017 .   Google Home enables users to speak voice commands to interact with services through the Home 's intelligent personal assistant called Google Assistant . A large number of services , both in-house and third-party , are integrated , allowing users to listen to music , look at videos or photos , or receive news updates entirely by voice . Google Home also has integrated support for home automation features , letting users speak commands to the device to control smart home appliances . Multiple Google Home devices can be placed in different rooms in a home for synchronized playback of music , and an update in April 2017 brought multi-user support , allowing up to six people to engage with the device . The product itself has a cylindrical shape with 4 LEDs on the top for visual representation of its status , and the cover over the base is modular , with different color options offered through Google Store intended for the device to blend into the environment . In May 2017 , Google announced multiple updates to Google Home 's functionality , including free hands-free phone calling in the United States and Canada , proactive updates ahead of scheduled events , visual responses on mobile devices or Chromecast-enabled televisions , Bluetooth music streaming , and the ability to schedule calendar appointments , with upcoming support for reminders .   Google Home received mixed reviews . Its design and sound input/output received significant praise , while a lack of interoperability between other Google Assistant-enabled devices was criticized . Critics voiced concerns about Google 's intentions with the device , particularly whether features would be more tightly integrated into other Google products and one critic noted that Google Home 's functionality was more limited than those offered through the Google Assistant on other platforms . Reviewers had very different experiences with the setup process , with one critic praising it while another criticized it , and Google Home 's search-based answers was the subject of debate , with one reviewer praising its capabilities while another highlighted multiple bad-quality answers comparable to fake news .


The Weeknd The Weeknd ( born Abel Makkonen Tesfaye ; February 16 , 1990 ) is a Canadian singer , songwriter , and record producer . The Weeknd initially gained recognition after anonymously uploading several songs to YouTube in late 2010 . This allowed him to release of his debut mixtape , House of Balloons , in early 2011 . He released two further independent projects later that year , Thursday and Echoes of Silence , before signing to Republic Records in September 2012 .   The three mixtapes received widespread critical acclaim upon release , and proceeded the release of the compilation album Trilogy . In 2013 , he released his debut studio album Kiss Land , which debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 . It was later confirmed to have sold over 273,000 copies in the United States .   The Weeknd released his second album , Beauty Behind the Madness , in 2015 , breaking chart records in the process . It saw him become the first ever artist to have simultaneously held the top three spots on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart , with `` Earned It '' , `` The Hills '' , and `` Ca n't Feel My Face '' . It also became his first number one album on the US Billboard 200 , and saw triple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America ( RIAA ) . The album additionally oversaw his first Grammy Award win for Best Urban Contemporary Album , as well as `` Earned It '' winning Best R&B Performance . He won both awards at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony in 2016 .   He released his third studio album , Starboy , in 2016 to generally positive critical reception . The album 's title track topped the chart in several countries , including the U.S. , the UK and Canada , and became The Weeknd 's third number-one single . It gave him his second consecutive number one album , which also later saw platinum certification .   Alongside his Grammy Award wins , The Weeknd has won nine Juno Awards and two American Music Awards . He has also founded the record label XO , and is a producer under both his given and stage names .


Tony Bill Gerard Anthony `` Tony '' Bill ( born August 23 , 1940 ) is an American actor , producer , and director . He produced the 1973 movie The Sting , for which he shared the Academy Award for Best Picture with Michael Phillips and Julia Phillips . As an actor , Bill has had supporting roles in films including Come Blow Your Horn ( 1963 ) , Shampoo ( 1975 ) , Pee-Wee 's Big Adventure ( 1985 ) , and Less Than Zero ( 1987 ) . He made his directorial debut with My Bodyguard ( 1980 ) , and has since directed movies like Six Weeks ( 1982 ) , Five Corners ( 1987 ) , Crazy People ( 1990 ) , and Flyboys ( 2006 ) . He often casts Dudley Moore in his films .


Alex Rodriguez was suspended for 211 games.

Alex Rodriguez Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez ( born July 27 , 1975 ) , nicknamed `` A-Rod '' , is a Dominican-American former professional baseball shortstop and third baseman . He played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball ( MLB ) for the Seattle Mariners , Texas Rangers , and New York Yankees . Rodriguez was one of the sport 's most highly touted prospects and is considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time . During his 22-year career , Rodriguez has amassed a .297 batting average , 696 home runs , over 2,000 runs batted in ( RBI ) , over 2,000 runs scored , and over 3,000 hits . He is a 14-time All-Star and has won three American League ( AL ) Most Valuable Player ( MVP ) Awards , ten Silver Slugger Awards , and two Gold Glove Awards . Rodríguez is the career record holder for grand slams with 25 . However , he has led a highly controversial career due to signing two of the most lucrative sports contracts in history while incurring criticism from the media for his behavior and use of illegal performance-enhancing drugs .   The Mariners selected Rodriguez first overall in the 1993 MLB draft , and he debuted in the major leagues the following year at the age of 18 . In 1996 , he became the Mariners ' starting shortstop and finished second in voting for the AL MVP Award . Rodriguez 's combination of power , speed , and defense made him a cornerstone of the franchise , but he left the team via free agency after the 2000 season to join the Rangers . The 10-year , $ 252 million contract he signed was the richest in baseball history . He played at a high level in his three years with Texas , highlighted by his first AL MVP Award win in 2003 , but the team failed to make the playoffs during his tenure . Prior to the 2004 season , Rodriguez was traded to the Yankees , for whom he converted to a third baseman due to incumbent shortstop Derek Jeter . In his first four seasons with New York , he was twice more named AL MVP . After opting out of his contract following the 2007 season , Rodriguez signed a new 10-year , $ 275 million deal with the Yankees , extending his record for the sport 's most lucrative contract . He became the youngest player ever to hit 500 home runs , reaching the milestone in 2007 . He won his first World Series in 2009 , which was the first year of the new Yankee Stadium . The following year , he became the career leader in home runs by a player of Hispanic descent . In recent years , Rodriguez has been hampered by hip and knee injuries , which have caused him to exclusively become a designated hitter . He played his final game as a Yankee on August 12 , 2016 .   In February 2009 , after previously denying use of performance-enhancing drugs , including during a 2007 interview with Katie Couric on 60 Minutes , Rodriguez admitted to using steroids , saying he used them from 2001 to 2003 when playing for Rangers due to `` an enormous amount of pressure '' to perform . While recovering from a hip injury in 2013 , Rodriguez made headlines by feuding with team management over his rehabilitation and for having allegedly obtained performance-enhancing drugs as part of the Biogenesis baseball scandal . In August 2013 , MLB suspended him 211 games for his involvement in the scandal , but he was allowed to play while appealing the punishment . Had the original suspension been upheld , it would have been the longest non-lifetime suspension in Major League Baseball history . After an arbitration hearing , the suspension was reduced to 162 games , keeping him off the field for the entire 2014 season .


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


Lauren Bacall Lauren Bacall ( -LSB- ˌlɔːrən_bəˈkɔːl -RSB- , born Betty Joan Perske ; September 16 , 1924 -- August 12 , 2014 ) was an American actress and singer known for her distinctive voice and sultry looks . She was named the 20th greatest female star of Classic Hollywood cinema by the American Film Institute , and received an Academy Honorary Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2009 , `` in recognition of her central place in the Golden Age of motion pictures . ''   Bacall began her career as a model , before making her debut as a leading lady with Humphrey Bogart in the film To Have and Have Not in 1944 . She continued in the film noir genre with appearances with Bogart in The Big Sleep ( 1946 ) , Dark Passage ( 1947 ) , and Key Largo ( 1948 ) , and starred in the romantic comedies How to Marry a Millionaire ( 1953 ) with Marilyn Monroe and Designing Woman ( 1957 ) with Gregory Peck . She co-starred with John Wayne in his final film , The Shootist ( 1976 ) . Bacall also worked on Broadway in musicals , earning Tony Awards for Applause ( 1970 ) and Woman of the Year ( 1981 ) . Her performance in The Mirror Has Two Faces ( 1996 ) earned her a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination .   A month before her 90th birthday , Bacall died in New York City after a stroke .


Generation X Generation X , or Gen X , is the demographic cohort following the baby boomers . There are no precise dates for when this cohort starts or ends ; demographers and researchers typically use starting birth years ranging from the early-to-mid 1960s and ending birth years ranging from the late 1970s to early 1980s . Generation X is a relatively smaller demographic cohort sandwiched between two larger demographic cohorts , the baby boomers and the millennials .   Members of Generation X were children during a time of shifting societal values and as children were sometimes called the `` latchkey generation '' , due to reduced adult supervision compared to previous generations , a result of increasing divorce rates and increased maternal participation in the workforce , prior to widespread availability of childcare options outside of the home . As adolescents and young adults , they were dubbed the `` MTV Generation '' ( a reference to the music video channel of the same name ) and characterized as slackers and as cynical and disaffected . Some of the cultural influences on Gen X youth were the musical genres of grunge and hip hop music , and indie films . In midlife , research describes Gen X adults as active , happy , and as achieving a work -- life balance . The cohort has been credited with entrepreneurial tendencies .


What Makes You Beautiful was made by One Direction.

One Direction One Direction ( commonly abbreviated as 1D ) are an English-Irish pop boy band based in London , composed of Niall Horan , Liam Payne , Harry Styles , Louis Tomlinson , and previously , Zayn Malik until his departure from the band on 25 March 2015 . The group signed with Simon Cowell 's record label Syco Records after forming and finishing third in the seventh series of the British televised singing competition The X Factor in 2010 . Propelled to international success by social media , One Direction 's five albums , Up All Night ( 2011 ) , Take Me Home ( 2012 ) , Midnight Memories ( 2013 ) , Four ( 2014 ) , and Made in the A.M. ( 2015 ) , topped charts in most major markets , and generated hit singles including `` What Makes You Beautiful '' , `` Live While We 're Young '' , `` Best Song Ever '' , `` Story of My Life '' , and `` Drag Me Down '' .   Their awards include six Brit Awards , four MTV Video Music Awards , eleven MTV Europe Music Awards , seven American Music Awards ( including Artist of the Year in 2014 and 2015 ) , and 27 Teen Choice Awards , among many others . According to Nick Gatfield , the chairman and chief executive of Sony Music Entertainment UK , One Direction represented a $ 50 million business empire by June 2012 . They were proclaimed 2012 's `` Top New Artist '' by Billboard . According to the Sunday Times Rich List , by April 2013 , they had an estimated personal combined wealth of # 25 million ( $ 41.2 m ) making them the second-wealthiest musicians in the UK under 30 years of age . In 2014 , Forbes listed them the second-highest earning celebrities under 30 , with the group earning an estimated $ 75 million from June 2013 to June 2014 . In June 2015 , Forbes listed their earnings at $ 130 million for the previous twelve months , and ranked them the fourth highest earning celebrities in the world . In 2016 Forbes ranked them the world 's second highest earning celebrities .   After the release of Four , One Direction became the first band in the US Billboard 200 history to have their first four albums debut at number one . Their third album , Midnight Memories , was the biggest-selling album worldwide of 2013 despite being released in late November . The band 's Where We Are Tour in support of Midnight Memories and Four , was the highest-grossing concert tour in 2014 , and the highest-grossing tour ever by a vocal group , generating $ 282 million . In 2014 , Billboard named One Direction Artist of the Year . The band is currently on a hiatus that began in January 2016 , allowing all members to pursue other projects .


Hugh Hefner Hugh Marston Hefner ( born April 9 , 1926 ) is an American men 's lifestyle magazine publisher , businessman , and a well-known playboy . Hefner is a native of Chicago , Illinois and a former journalist for Esquire . He is best known for being the founder and chief creative officer of Playboy Enterprises . A self-made multi-millionaire , his net worth is over $ 43 million due to his success as the founder of Playboy magazine . Hefner is also a political activist and philanthropist active in several causes and public issues . He is a World War II veteran .


Gemini (astrology) Gemini ( pronunciation : -LSB- ˈdʒɛmɪnaɪ -RSB- or -LSB- ˈdʒɛmɪniː -RSB- or ) is the third astrological sign in the zodiac , originating from the constellation of Gemini . Under the tropical zodiac , the sun transits this sign between May 21 and June 21 . Gemini is represented by The Twins Castor and Pollux . The symbol of the twins is based on the Dioscuri , two mortals that were granted shared godhood after death .