Point Place is outside the United States.

Wisconsin Wisconsin ( -LSB- wᵻˈskɒnsᵻn -RSB- ) is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States , in the Midwest and Great Lakes regions . It is bordered by Minnesota to the west , Iowa to the southwest , Illinois to the south , Lake Michigan to the east , Michigan to the northeast , and Lake Superior to the north . Wisconsin is the 23rd largest state by total area and the 20th most populous . The state capital is Madison , and its largest city is Milwaukee , which is located on the western shore of Lake Michigan . The state is divided into 72 counties .   Wisconsin 's geography is diverse , with the Northern Highland and Western Upland along with a part of the Central Plain occupying the western part of the state and lowlands stretching to the shore of Lake Michigan . Wisconsin is second to Michigan in the length of its Great Lakes coastline .   Wisconsin is known as `` America 's Dairyland '' because it is one of the nation 's leading dairy producers , particularly famous for its cheese . Manufacturing , especially paper products , information technology ( IT ) , and tourism are also major contributors to the state 's economy .


Point Place Point Place is the fictional town in Wisconsin in which the television sitcom That '70s Show takes place . It is depicted as a typical suburban community , largely white and middle class . According to the episode `` Hey Hey What Can I Do , '' Point Place 's economy seems to be largely built around slaughtering ( in fact , a later episode `` Leaving Home Ai n't Easy '' reveals a roadway named `` Slaughterhouse Way '' because it leads to a slaughterhouse ) .


Joey Graceffa Joseph Michael `` Joey '' Graceffa ( -LSB- grəˈsɛfə -RSB- born May 16 , 1991 ) is an American YouTube personality , actor , author , producer , and singer . He has two active YouTube channels , both of which are named after him . One of them is for vlogging and the other is used for video gaming content . They both have a combined total of more than 1.6 billion views . His other YouTube channel , which he no longer uses , called WinterSpringPro , has 60 million views ( as of May 2017 ) . He was a contestant on 22nd and 24th seasons of The Amazing Race and has appeared in short films ( as web films ) and short web television series on YouTube and its subscription-only service YouTube Red .


Avatar (2009 film) Avatar ( marketed as James Cameron 's Avatar ) is a 2009 American epic science fiction film directed , written , produced , and co-edited by James Cameron , and starring Sam Worthington , Zoe Saldana , Stephen Lang , Michelle Rodriguez , and Sigourney Weaver . The film is set in the mid-22nd century , when humans are colonizing Pandora , a lush habitable moon of a gas giant in the Alpha Centauri star system , in order to mine the mineral unobtanium , a room-temperature superconductor . The expansion of the mining colony threatens the continued existence of a local tribe of Na ` vi -- a humanoid species indigenous to Pandora . The film 's title refers to a genetically engineered Na ` vi body with the mind of a remotely located human that is used to interact with the natives of Pandora .   Development of Avatar began in 1994 , when Cameron wrote an 80-page treatment for the film . Filming was supposed to take place after the completion of Cameron 's 1997 film Titanic , for a planned release in 1999 , but according to Cameron , the necessary technology was not yet available to achieve his vision of the film . Work on the language of the film 's extraterrestrial beings began in 2005 , and Cameron began developing the screenplay and fictional universe in early 2006 . Avatar was officially budgeted at $ 237 million . Other estimates put the cost between $ 280 million and $ 310 million for production and at $ 150 million for promotion . The film made extensive use of new motion capture filming techniques , and was released for traditional viewing , 3D viewing ( using the RealD 3D , Dolby 3D , XpanD 3D , and IMAX 3D formats ) , and for `` 4D '' experiences in select South Korean theaters . The stereoscopic filmmaking was touted as a breakthrough in cinematic technology .   Avatar premiered in London on , 2009 , and was internationally released on and in the United States and Canada on , to positive critical reviews , with critics highly praising its groundbreaking visual effects . During its theatrical run , the film broke several box office records and became the highest-grossing film of all time , as well as in the United States and Canada , surpassing Titanic , which had held those records for twelve years ( and was also directed by Cameron ) . It also became the first film to gross more than and the best-selling film of 2010 in the United States . Avatar was nominated for nine Academy Awards , including Best Picture and Best Director , and won three , for Best Art Direction , Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects . Following the film 's success , Cameron signed with 20th Century Fox to produce three sequels , making Avatar the first of a planned tetralogy . On April 14 , 2016 , Cameron confirmed that there were now plans for four sequels . Avatar 2 was scheduled for release in December 2018 before being delayed , with the sequels following in December 2020 , 2022 , and 2023 , respectively . The sequels are scheduled for release in 2020 , 2021 , 2024 and 2025 .


Kobe Bryant was a member of the L.A. Lakers.

Kobe Bryant Kobe Bean Bryant ( born August 23 , 1978 ) is an American retired professional basketball player and businessman . He played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . He entered the NBA directly from high school and won five NBA championships with the Lakers . Bryant is an 18-time All-Star , 15-time member of the All-NBA Team , and 12-time member of the All-Defensive team . He led the NBA in scoring during two seasons , and ranks third on the league 's all-time regular season scoring and fourth on the all-time postseason scoring list . He holds the NBA record for the most seasons playing with one franchise for an entire career .   The son of former NBA player Joe Bryant , Kobe Bryant enjoyed a successful high school basketball career at Lower Merion High School in Pennsylvania , where he was recognized as the top high school basketball player in the country . He declared for the NBA draft upon graduation , and was selected with the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets , who traded him to the Lakers . As a rookie , Bryant earned himself a reputation as a high-flyer and a fan favorite by winning the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest , and he was named an All-Star by his second season . Despite a feud between them , Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal led the Lakers to three consecutive championships from 2000 to 2002 .   In 2003 , Bryant was accused of sexual assault in Colorado , but the charges were eventually dropped , and a civil suit was settled out of court . After the Lakers lost the 2004 NBA Finals , O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat . Bryant became the cornerstone of the Lakers , and he led the NBA in scoring during the 2005 -- 06 and 2006 -- 07 seasons . In 2006 , he scored a career-high 81 points against the Toronto Raptors , the second most points scored in a single game in league history behind Wilt Chamberlain 's 100-point game in 1962 . Bryant was awarded the regular season 's Most Valuable Player Award ( MVP ) in 2008 . After losing in the 2008 NBA Finals , he led the Lakers to two consecutive championships in 2009 and 2010 , earning the Finals MVP Award on both occasions . He continued to be among the top players in the league through 2013 , when the 34-year-old Bryant suffered a torn Achilles tendon . Although he recovered , his play was limited the following two years by season-ending injuries to his knee and shoulder , respectively . Citing his physical decline , he announced that he would be retiring after the 2015 -- 16 season .   At 34 years and 104 days of age , Bryant became the youngest player in league history to reach 30,000 career points . He became the all-time leading scorer in Lakers franchise history on February 1 , 2010 , when he surpassed Jerry West . Following his second year in the league , Bryant was chosen to start every All-Star Game until his retirement for a record 18 consecutive appearances , and his four All-Star MVP Awards are tied for the most in NBA history . At the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics , he won gold medals as a member of the U.S. national team . Sporting News and TNT named Bryant the top NBA player of the 2000s .


Over 30 days, Little Miss Sunshine was filmed.

Little Miss Sunshine Little Miss Sunshine is a 2006 American comedy-drama road film and the directorial debut of the husband-wife team of Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris . The screenplay was written by first-time writer Michael Arndt . The film stars Greg Kinnear , Steve Carell , Toni Collette , Paul Dano , Abigail Breslin and Alan Arkin , and was produced by Big Beach Films on a budget of US$ 8 million . Filming began on June 6 , 2005 and took place over 30 days in Arizona and Southern California .   The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 20 , 2006 , and its distribution rights were bought by Fox Searchlight Pictures for one of the biggest deals made in the history of the festival . The film had a limited release in the United States on July 26 , 2006 , and later expanded to a wider release starting on August 18 .   Little Miss Sunshine had an international box office gross of $ 100.5 million . The film was nominated for four Academy Awards , including Best Picture , and won two : Best Original Screenplay for Michael Arndt and Best Supporting Actor for Alan Arkin . It also won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Feature and received numerous other accolades .


John is the middle name of Donald Trump.

Donald Trump Donald John Trump ( born June 14 , 1946 ) is the 45th and current President of the United States . Before entering politics , he was a businessman and television personality .   Trump was born and raised in Queens , New York City , and earned an economics degree from the Wharton School . He then took charge of The Trump Organization , the real estate and construction firm founded by his paternal grandmother , which he ran for 45 years until 2016 . During his real estate career , Trump built , renovated , and managed numerous office towers , hotels , casinos , and golf courses . Besides real estate , he started several side ventures and has licensed the use of his name for the branding of various products and properties , including Trump Entertainment Resorts , Trump Steaks , and Trump Vodka . He was the founder of Trump University . He owned the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants from 1996 to 2015 , and he produced and hosted The Apprentice , a reality television series on NBC , from 2004 to 2015 . His net worth was estimated to be $ 3.5 billion , making him the 544th richest person in the world .   Trump first publicly expressed interest in running for political office in 1987 . He won two Reform Party presidential primaries in 2000 , but withdrew his candidacy early on . In June 2015 , he launched his campaign for the 2016 presidential election and quickly emerged as the front-runner among seventeen candidates in the Republican primaries . His remaining opponents all suspended their campaigns by the end of May 2016 , and in July he was formally nominated at the Republican National Convention along with Indiana governor Mike Pence as his running mate . Many of his campaign statements were controversial or false , generating much free media coverage .   Trump won the general election on November 8 , 2016 , in a surprise victory against Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton and commenced his presidency on January 20 , 2017 . He became the oldest and wealthiest person ever to assume the presidency , the first without prior military or government service , and the fifth to have won the election while losing the popular vote . His political positions have been described by scholars and commentators as populist , protectionist , and nationalist .


That's So Raven did not debut on January 17, 2003.

That's So Raven That 's So Raven is an American supernatural teen comedy sitcom television series . It debuted on Disney Channel on January 17 , 2003 , and ended its run on November 10 , 2007 . The show had a spin-off series , Cory in the House . The series was nominated in 2005 and 2007 for Emmy Awards for Outstanding Children 's Programming .   The show was set in San Francisco and revolved around teenager Raven Baxter , played by Raven-Symoné , her friends Eddie ( Orlando Brown ) and Chelsea ( Anneliese van der Pol ) , her family members ; mother Tanya Baxter ( T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh ) father Victor Baxter ( Rondell Sheridan ) and brother Cory ( Kyle Massey ) . The title character drew on her psychic powers , ingenuity , and talent as a fashion designer as well as a variety of disguises to get into and out of amusing adolescent and pre-adolescent situations .   Reruns of episodes aired on the ABC Kids Saturday morning segment of Disney-owned ABC broadcast network in the United States until August 27 , 2011 , when the block was discontinued . No announcement was made as to whether the show would get complete season releases on DVD . That 's So Raven garnered higher ratings than any other Disney Channel show and is also the first show in Disney channel history to make the 100 episode mark .   In October 2016 , Raven-Symoné announced that there is a spin-off in the works . Symoné will reprise her role as Raven Baxter who will now be a single mother with two children , one who has psychic visions . Symone has also stated that Anneliese Van Der Pol will return as Chelsea . In April 2017 , the spin-off was officially greenlit and ordered to series under the title Raven 's Home .


There is a collection of songs sold as a unit called Taylor Swift.

Taylor Swift (album) Taylor Swift is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift , released on October 24 , 2006 , by Big Machine Records . Swift was 16 years old at the time of the album 's release and wrote its songs during her freshman year of high school . Swift has writing credits on all of the album 's songs , including those co-written with Liz Rose . Swift experimented with several producers , ultimately choosing Nathan Chapman , who had produced her demo album . Musically , the album is country music styled , and lyrically it speaks of romantic relationships , a couple of which Swift wrote from observing relationships before being in one . Lyrics also touch on Swift 's personal struggles in high school .   Five singles were released from the album , all of which have been certified platinum by the RIAA . `` Tim McGraw '' was released as the lead single and reached the top ten on Billboard 's Hot Country Songs . `` Teardrops on My Guitar '' was released as the second single and was the album 's best-charting song on the Billboard Hot 100 . `` Our Song '' was released as the third single from the album and was Swift 's first number one on Billboard 's Hot Country Songs chart . It made her the youngest person to single-handedly write and perform a number one song on the Hot Country Songs chart . `` Picture to Burn '' and `` Should 've Said No '' were released as the fourth single and fifth singles from the album , respectively , and both were successful on the country charts in the United States . Swift promoted the album by performing on tour as the opening act for artists such as Rascal Flatts , George Strait , Brad Paisley , and Tim McGraw and Faith Hill .   Taylor Swift was received positively by contemporary critics , who praised Swift 's talent at such a young age . The album enjoyed commercial success and launched Swift 's career in country music . In the United States , it topped the Top Country Albums Chart for 24 non-consecutive weeks , and was certified five times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America ( RIAA ) for sales of over 5 million copies . Taylor Swift has logged 275 weeks on the Billboard Top 200 chart as of early 2013 . The album was also successful outside of Swift 's native country , especially in Canada , Australia , and the United Kingdom . The album has sold over 6 million copies worldwide as of January 2015 .


Thomas DeSimone was associated with one of the "Twelve Families."

Thomas DeSimone Thomas Anthony DeSimone ( May 24 , 1950 -- disappeared January 14 , 1979 ) , also known as Two-Gun Tommy or Tommy D , was a Sicilian-American gangster and associate of the Lucchese crime family in New York City . DeSimone was a grandson and nephew of Los Angeles mob bosses Rosario DeSimone and Frank DeSimone , respectively . He was married to Angelica `` Cookie '' Spione , but had many mistresses , including Theresa Ferrara .   In Martin Scorsese 's film Goodfellas , the character Tommy DeVito ( portrayed by Joe Pesci ) is based on DeSimone .


Lucchese crime family The Lucchese crime family ( pronounced -LSB- lukˈkeːze -RSB- ) is one of the `` Five Families '' that dominate organized crime activities in New York City , United States , within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia ( or Cosa Nostra ) .   The family originated in the early 1920s with Gaetano Reina serving as boss up until his murder in 1930 . It was taken over by Tommy Gagliano during the Castellammarese War , and led by him until his death in 1951 . The family under Gagliano was peaceful and low key , concentrating their criminal activities in the Bronx , Manhattan and New Jersey . The next boss was Tommy Lucchese , who turned the family around to become one of the most powerful families to sit on the Commission . Lucchese teamed up with Gambino crime family boss Carlo Gambino to control organized crime in New York City . When Lucchese died of natural causes in 1967 , Carmine Tramunti controlled the family for a brief time ; he was arrested in 1973 . Anthony Corallo then gained control of the family . Corallo was very secretive and soon became one of the most powerful members of the Commission . He was arrested and convicted in the famous Commission case of 1986 .   For most of its history , the Lucchese family was reckoned as one of the most peaceful crime families in the nation . However , that changed when Corallo named Victor Amuso his successor shortly before going to prison . Amuso later promoted one of his longtime partners , Anthony Casso to underboss . They instituted one of the bloodiest reigns in Mafia history , ordering virtually anyone who crossed them to be murdered . Amuso was arrested in 1991 and sentenced to life in prison . Several Lucchese wiseguys , fearing for their lives , turned informant . The highest-profile of these was acting boss Alphonse D'Arco , who became the first boss of a New York crime family to testify against the mob . This led to the arrest of the entire Lucchese family hierarchy , with Casso also becoming an informant . Testimony from these informants nearly destroyed the family , with as many as half of its members incarcerated . Amuso has continued to rule the family from prison .


Stanley Kubrick oversaw the production of Lolita.

Stanley Kubrick Stanley Kubrick ( -LSB- ˈkuːbrɪk -RSB- July 26 , 1928 -- March 7 , 1999 ) was an American film director , screenwriter , producer , cinematographer , editor , and photographer . He is frequently cited as one of the greatest and most influential directors in cinematic history . His films , which are mostly adaptations of novels or short stories , cover a wide range of genres , and are noted for their realism , dark humor , unique cinematography , extensive set designs , and evocative use of music .   Kubrick was born and raised in the Bronx , New York City , and attended William Howard Taft High School from 1941 to 1945 . Although he only received average grades , Kubrick displayed a keen interest in literature , photography , and film from a young age , and taught himself all aspects of film production and directing after graduating from high school . After working as a photographer for Look magazine in the late 1940s and early 1950s , he began making short films on a shoestring budget , and made his first major Hollywood film , The Killing , for United Artists in 1956 . This was followed by two collaborations with Kirk Douglas , the war picture Paths of Glory ( 1957 ) and the historical epic Spartacus ( 1960 ) . His reputation as a filmmaker in Hollywood grew , and he was approached by Marlon Brando to film what would become One-Eyed Jacks ( 1961 ) , though Brando eventually decided to direct it himself .   Creative differences arising from his work with Douglas and the film studios , a dislike of Hollywood , and a growing concern about crime in America prompted Kubrick to move to the United Kingdom in 1961 , where he spent most of the remainder of his life and career . His home at Childwickbury Manor in Hertfordshire , which he shared with his wife Christiane , became his workplace , where he did his writing , research , editing , and management of production details . This allowed him to have almost complete artistic control over his films , but with the rare advantage of having financial support from major Hollywood studios . His first British productions were two films with Peter Sellers , Lolita ( 1962 ) and Dr. Strangelove ( 1964 ) .   A demanding perfectionist , Kubrick assumed control over most aspects of the filmmaking process , from direction and writing to editing , and took painstaking care with researching his films and staging scenes , working in close coordination with his actors and other collaborators . He often asked for several dozen retakes of the same scene in a movie , which resulted in many conflicts with his casts . Despite the resulting notoriety among actors , many of Kubrick 's films broke new ground in cinematography . The scientific realism and innovative special effects of 2001 : A Space Odyssey ( 1968 ) were without precedent in the history of cinema , and the film earned him his only personal Oscar , for Best Visual Effects . Steven Spielberg has referred to the film as his generation 's `` big bang '' , and it is regarded as one of the greatest films ever made . For the 18th-century period film Barry Lyndon ( 1975 ) , Kubrick obtained lenses developed by Zeiss for NASA , to film scenes under natural candlelight . With The Shining ( 1980 ) , he became one of the first directors to make use of a Steadicam for stabilized and fluid tracking shots . While many of Kubrick 's films were controversial and initially received mixed reviews upon release -- particularly A Clockwork Orange ( 1971 ) , which Kubrick pulled from circulation in the UK following a mass media frenzy -- most were nominated for Oscars , Golden Globes , or BAFTA Awards , and underwent critical reevaluations . His last film , Eyes Wide Shut , was completed shortly before his death in 1999 at the age of 70 .


Saint Peter Saint Peter ( Syriac/Aramaic : ܫܸܡܥܘܿܢ ܟܹ݁ܐܦ݂ܵܐ , Shemayon Keppa , שמעון בר יונה , Πέτρος , according to the New Testament , was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ , leaders of the early Christian Great Church . Hippolytus of Rome , a 3rd-century theologian , gave him the title of `` Apostle of the Apostles '' . According to Catholic teaching , Peter was ordained by Jesus in the `` Rock of My Church '' dialogue in Matthew . He is traditionally counted as the first Bishop of Romeor popeand also by Eastern Christian tradition as the first Patriarch of Antioch . The ancient Christian churches all venerate Peter as a major saint and as the founder of the Church of Antioch and the Roman Church , but differ in their attitudes regarding the authority of his present-day successors .   The New Testament indicates that Peter was the son of John ( or Jonah or Jona ) and was from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee or Gaulanitis . His brother Andrew was also an apostle . According to New Testament accounts , Peter was one of twelve apostles chosen by Jesus from his first disciples . Originally a fisherman , he played a leadership role and was with Jesus during events witnessed by only a few apostles , such as the Transfiguration . According to the gospels , Peter confessed Jesus as the Messiah , was part of Jesus 's inner circle , thrice denied Jesus and wept bitterly once he realised his deed , and preached on the day of Pentecost .   According to Christian tradition , Peter was crucified in Rome under Emperor Nero Augustus Caesar . It is traditionally held that he was crucified upside down at his own request , since he saw himself unworthy to be crucified in the same way as Jesus . Tradition holds that he was crucified at the site of the Clementine Chapel . His remains are said to be those contained in the underground Confessio of St. Peter 's Basilica , where Pope Paul VI announced in 1968 the excavated discovery of a first-century Roman cemetery . Every 29 June since 1736 , a statue of Saint Peter in St. Peter 's Basilica is adorned with papal tiara , ring of the fisherman , and papal vestments , as part of the celebration of the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul . According to Catholic doctrine , the direct papal successor to Saint Peter is the incumbent pope , currently Pope .   Two general epistles in the New Testament are ascribed to Peter , but modern scholars reject the Petrine authorship of both . The Gospel of Mark was traditionally thought to show the influence of Peter 's preaching and eyewitness memories . Several other books bearing his namethe Acts of Peter , Gospel of Peter , Preaching of Peter , Apocalypse of Peter , and Judgment of Peterare considered by Christian denominations as apocryphal , and are thus not included in their Bible canons .


Above the Law is written and directed by Andrew Davis.

Above the Law (film) Above the Law ( also known as Nico ) is a 1988 American action film written , produced and directed by Andrew Davis , and also produced by and starring Steven Seagal in his film debut . The film co-stars Pam Grier , Sharon Stone , Daniel Faraldo and Henry Silva . This came about after a successful screen test , financed by Michael Ovitz , leading to Seagal being offered a contract by Warner Bros. . The film was set and filmed on location in Chicago . The film was released in the United States on April 8 , 1988 .


Helen Hunt has been in at least five different films like Twister, Cast Away, What Women Want, Pay It Forward, and The Sessions.

Helen Hunt Helen Elizabeth Hunt ( born June 15 , 1963 ) is an American actress , director , and screenwriter . She starred in the sitcom Mad About You for seven years , and played single mother Carol Connelly in the 1997 romantic comedy film As Good as It Gets , for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress . Some of her other notable films include Twister ( 1996 ) , Cast Away ( 2000 ) , What Women Want ( 2000 ) , Pay It Forward ( 2000 ) , and The Sessions ( 2012 ) , the latter garnered her a second Academy Award nomination . She made her directorial debut in 2007 with Then She Found Me ( 2007 ) . Hunt has also won four Emmy Awards , four Golden Globe Awards , and two Screen Actors Guild Awards .


Millie Bobby Brown Millie Bobby Brown ( born 19 February 2004 ) is an English actress and model known for her breakout role as Jane `` Eleven '' Ives in the Netflix science fiction drama series Stranger Things .


Alia Bhatt Alia Bhatt ( born 15 March 1993 ) is a British film actress and singer who works in Bollywood . Born into the Bhatt family , she is the daughter of filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and actress Soni Razdan . After making her acting debut as a child artist in the 1999 thriller Sangharsh , Bhatt played her first leading role in Karan Johar 's romantic drama Student of the Year ( 2012 ) , which earned her a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut .   Bhatt established herself in Bollywood by starring as the female lead in several commercially successful films , including the romantic drama 2 States ( 2014 ) , the romantic comedy Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania ( 2014 ) , the drama Kapoor & Sons ( 2016 ) , the coming-of-age film Dear Zindagi ( 2016 ) , and the romantic comedy Badrinath Ki Dulhania ( 2017 ) . She received critical acclaim for portraying emotionally intense characters in the road drama Highway ( 2014 ) , which won her the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress , and the crime drama Udta Punjab ( 2016 ) , which won her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress .   In addition to acting in films , Bhatt has launched her own line of clothing for women . She has sung six of her film songs and participates in stage shows and concert tours .


Sean Connery did not act in Dragonheart.

Dragonheart Dragonheart is a 1996 American fantasy adventure film directed by Rob Cohen . It stars Dennis Quaid , David Thewlis , Pete Postlethwaite , Dina Meyer , and the voice of Sean Connery . It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects and various other awards in 1996 and 1997 . The film also inspired a direct-to-video sequel , Dragonheart : A New Beginning in 2000 . A direct-to-video prequel , Dragonheart 3 : The Sorcerer 's Curse , was released in 2015 .


Sean Connery Sir Thomas Sean Connery KB ( -LSB- ˈʃɔːn_ˈkɒnəri -RSB- born 25 August 1930 ) is a retired Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy Award , two BAFTA Awards ( one of them being a BAFTA Academy Fellowship Award ) and three Golden Globes ( including the Cecil B. DeMille Award and a Henrietta Award ) . He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in July 2000 after receiving Kennedy Center Honors in the US in 1999 .   Connery was the first actor to portray the character James Bond in film , starring in seven Bond films between 1962 and 1983 . In 1988 , Connery won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Untouchables . His film career also includes such films as Marnie , The Name of the Rose , The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen , Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade , The Hunt for Red October , Finding Forrester , Highlander , Murder on the Orient Express , Dragonheart , and The Rock .   Connery has been polled as `` The Greatest Living Scot '' and `` Scotland 's Greatest Living National Treasure '' . In 1989 , he was proclaimed `` Sexiest Man Alive '' by People magazine , and in 1999 , at age 69 , he was voted `` Sexiest Man of the Century '' .


Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela is shortened to Ram-Leela.

Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela ( English : A Play of Bullets Ram-Leela ) , or simply Ram-Leela , is a 2013 Indian crime drama film co written , co edited , co produced , composed and directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali . The film is an adaptation of Shakespeare 's Romeo and Juliet , set in violent times . The eponymous lead roles are played by Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone , and the supporting roles are played by an ensemble cast including Supriya Pathak Kapur , Richa Chadda , Sharad Kelkar , Gulshan Devaiah , Barkha Bisht Sengupta , and Abhimanyu Singh . The film also features a special appearance by Priyanka Chopra in the song `` Ram Chahe Leela '' . The film 's release , scheduled on 15 November 2013 , had been stayed by Delhi High Court . The film was initially titled Ram-Leela but was changed to Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela in response to an order by the Delhi High Court and released as scheduled .   The movie which premiered on the scheduled date , opened to critical acclaim and strong box-office collections worldwide . It ultimately earned . The film became the fifth highest-grossing film of 2013 and won three Filmfare Awards with Padukone winning her first Filmfare Award for Best actress , from a total of eight nominations .


Aishwarya Rai Aishwarya Rai ( born 1 November 1973 ) , also known by her married name Aishwarya Rai Bachchan , is an Indian actress , model and the winner of the Miss World 1994 pageant . Through her successful acting career , she has established herself as one of the most popular and influential celebrities in India . Rai has received numerous awards and accolades , including two Filmfare Awards from eleven nominations , and she was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2009 . She has often been called `` the most beautiful woman in the world '' .   While in college , Rai did a few modelling jobs . Following appearances in several television commercials , she entered the Miss India pageant , in which she placed second . She was then crowned Miss World 1994 , after which she began receiving offers to act in film . She made her acting debut in Mani Ratnam 's 1997 Tamil film Iruvar and had her first Hindi film release in Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya that same year . Her first commercial success was the Tamil romantic drama Jeans ( 1998 ) , following which she achieved wider success and won two Best Actress awards at Filmfare for her performances in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam ( 1999 ) and Devdas ( 2002 ) .   Rai garnered critical appreciation for portraying a passionate artist in the Tamil romance Kandukondain Kandukondain ( 2000 ) , Tagore 's heroine , Binodini , in the Bengali film Chokher Bali ( 2003 ) , a depressed woman in the drama Raincoat ( 2004 ) , Kiranjit Ahluwalia in the British drama film Provoked ( 2006 ) , as a nurse in the drama Guzaarish ( 2010 ) and as a justise-seeking sister in the biographical drama Sarbjit ( 2015 ) . Rai 's greatest commercial successes have been the romance Mohabbatein ( 2000 ) , the adventure film Dhoom 2 ( 2006 ) , the historical romance Jodhaa Akbar ( 2008 ) , the science fiction film Enthiran ( 2010 ) , and the romantic drama Ae Dil Hai Mushkil ( 2016 ) .   Rai married actor Abhishek Bachchan in 2007 with whom she has one daughter . Her off-screen roles include duties as a brand ambassador for several charity organisations and campaigns . She is a Goodwill Ambassador for the Joint United Nations Programme on AIDS ( UNAIDS ) . In 2003 , she was the first Indian actress to be a jury member at the Cannes Film Festival .


Nick Jonas Nicholas Jerry Jonas ( born September 16 , 1992 ) is an American singer , songwriter , producer , and actor . Jonas began acting in theater at the age of seven , and released his debut single in 2002 . He released his eponymous debut album in 2004 to little success , though it did catch the attention of Columbia Records . Jonas opted to form a band with his older brothers , Joe and Kevin , known as the Jonas Brothers . The group released their debut studio album It 's About Time through Columbia Records . The record failed to achieve commercial success , thus the group parted ways with their label . Their self-titled second studio album was released through Hollywood Records in 2007 , and became their breakthrough record . The band became prominent figures on the Disney Channel during this time , gaining a large following through the network . The band starred in the widely successful film Camp Rock ( 2008 ) .   The release of the band 's third studio album , A Little Bit Longer ( 2008 ) , helped the band achieve further success ; the album 's lead single hit the top five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart . The release of their fourth studio album saw a decline in sales for the band , though was still fairly successful . Jonas and his brothers starred in the Disney Channel series JONAS in 2009 and 2010 , though poor ratings led to its cancellation in 2010 . It was later confirmed that the Jonas Brothers would be taking a hiatus , with Nick forming a new band known as Nick Jonas & the Administration . The band released one studio album in 2010 , though it failed to achieve much commercial success . Following the release , Jonas opted to focus on work in theater , and also had a recurring role on the television series Smash . The Jonas Brothers briefly reunited in 2013 , though officially parted ways due to creative differences .   Jonas decided to return to his solo music career following the band 's disbandment , and began work on his second studio album . He signed with Island Records , releasing Nick Jonas ( 2014 ) through the label . The album entered the top ten of the Billboard 200 , while both of the album 's singles entered the top twenty of the Billboard Hot 100 . The project was re-released as Nick Jonas X2 in 2015 . The release helped provide Jonas with a new public image , earning him the title of a `` sex symbol '' . Jonas later co-founded Safehouse Records , a record label in conjunction with Island Records and Hollywood Records . Jonas released his third studio album , Last Year Was Complicated ( 2016 ) , through the label . The project became his highest peaking entry as a solo artist on the Billboard 200 , while the lead single was a top twenty hit on the Billboard Hot 100 .


The Hobbit was published September 21, 1937.

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


North Korea North Korea , officially the Democratic People 's Republic of Korea ( DPRK ) , is a country in East Asia constituting the northern part of the Korean Peninsula .  Pyongyang is the nation 's capital and largest city . To the north and northwest the country is bordered by China and by Russia along the Amnok ( known as the Yalu in China ) and Tumen rivers ; it is bordered to the south by South Korea , with the heavily fortified Korean Demilitarized Zone ( DMZ ) separating the two .   In 1910 , Korea was annexed by the Empire of Japan . After the Japanese surrender at the end of World War II in 1945 , Korea was divided into two zones along the 38th parallel by the United States and the Soviet Union , with the north occupied by the Soviets and the south by the Americans . Negotiations on reunification failed , and in 1948 , separate governments were formed : the socialist Democratic People 's Republic of Korea in the north , and the capitalist Republic of Korea in the south . An invasion initiated by North Korea led to the Korean War ( 1950 -- 1953 ) . The Korean Armistice Agreement brought about a ceasefire , but no peace treaty was signed .   North Korea officially describes itself as a self-reliant socialist state and formally holds elections . Critics regard it as a totalitarian dictatorship . Various media outlets have called it Stalinist , particularly noting the elaborate cult of personality around Kim Il-sung and his family . International organizations have assessed that human rights violations in North Korea have no parallel in the contemporary world . The Workers ' Party of Korea ( WPK ) , led by a member of the ruling family , holds power in the state and leads the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland of which all political officers are required to be members .   Juche , an ideology of national self-reliance , was introduced into the constitution as a `` creative application of Marxism -- Leninism '' in 1972 . The means of production are owned by the state through state-run enterprises and collectivized farms . Most services such as healthcare , education , housing and food production are subsidized or state-funded . From 1994 to 1998 , North Korea suffered a famine that resulted in the deaths of between 240,000 and 3.5 million people , and the country continues to struggle with food production . North Korea follows Songun , or `` military-first '' policy . It is the country with the highest number of military and paramilitary personnel , with a total of 9,495,000 active , reserve , and paramilitary personnel . Its active duty army of 1.21 million is the fourth largest in the world , after China , the United States , and India . It possesses nuclear weapons . North Korea is an atheist state with no official religion and where public religion is discouraged .


Same-sex marriage is illegal in Northern Ireland.

Same-sex marriage Same-sex marriage , also known as gay marriage , is marriage between people of the same sex , either as a secular civil ceremony or in a religious setting .   In the late 20th century , rites of marriage for same-sex couples without legal recognition became increasingly common . The first law providing for marriage of people of the same sex in modern times was enacted in 2001 in the Netherlands . , same-sex marriage is legally recognized ( nationwide or in some parts ) in the following countries : Argentina , Belgium , Brazil , Canada , Colombia , Denmark,Same-sex marriage is legal in Denmark proper and Greenland . Legislation allowing same-sex marriage in the Faroe Islands has received royal assent though is not yet in effect . Finland , France , Iceland , Ireland , Luxembourg , Mexico,Same-sex marriage is legal in the states of Campeche , Coahuila , Colima , Jalisco , Michoacán , Morelos , Nayarit , Quintana Roo and Mexico City as well as in some municipalities in Guerrero , Puebla , Querétaro and Tamaulipas . Same-sex marriages performed in these jurisdictions are recognized throughout Mexico . the Netherlands,Same-sex marriage is legal in The Netherlands proper . Same-sex marriages performed there are recognized in Aruba , Curaçao and Sint Maarten . New Zealand,Same-sex marriage is legal in New Zealand proper , though is not legal in Tokelau , the Cook Islands and Niue , which together make up the Realm of New Zealand . Norway , Portugal , South Africa , Spain , Sweden , the United Kingdom,Same-sex marriage is legal England and Wales and Scotland ; though is notably not legal in Northern Ireland . Same-sex marriage is legal in the overseas territories of Akrotiri and Dhekelia , Ascension Island , Bermuda , the British Antarctic Territory , the British Indian Ocean Territory , Gibraltar and the Pitcairn Islands ; and in the Crown dependencies of Guernsey and the Isle of Man . The law in the Falkland Islands is not yet in force . the United StatesSame-sex marriage is legal in all 50 states , the District of Columbia , Guam , the Northern Mariana Islands , Puerto Rico , the United States Virgin Islands and some tribal jurisdictions . Some tribal jurisdictions do not recognize same-sex marriage . In the United States , Congress ( not the federal courts ) has legal authority over Indian country . Thus , unless Congress passes a law regarding same-sex marriage for Indian tribes , federally recognized American Indian tribes have the legal right to form their own marriage laws . American Samoa is the only unincorporated territory of the United States not to have legalized same-sex marriage . and Uruguay . Same-sex marriage is likely to soon become legal in Taiwan , after a constitutional court ruling in May 2017 . Polls show rising support for legally recognizing same-sex marriage in the Americas , Australia and most of Europe .  However , as of 2017 , South Africa is the only African country where same-sex marriage is recognized . No country in Asia legally recognises same-sex marriage ceremonies performed under its jurisdiction , although Israel recognises same-sex marriages performed overseas for some purposes .   Introduction of same-sex marriage laws has varied by jurisdiction , being variously accomplished through legislative change to marriage laws , a court ruling based on constitutional guarantees of equality , or by direct popular vote ( via ballot initiative or referendum ) . The recognition of same-sex marriage is a political and social issue , and also a religious issue in many countries , and debates continue to arise over whether people in same-sex relationships should be allowed marriage or some similar status ( a civil union ) . Same-sex marriage can provide those in same-sex relationships who pay their taxes with government services and make financial demands on them comparable to those afforded to and required of those in opposite-sex marriages . Same-sex marriage also gives them legal protections such as inheritance and hospital visitation rights . Various faith communities around the world support allowing those of the same sex to marry , while many major religions oppose same-sex marriage . Opponents of same-sex marriages have argued that recognition of same-sex marriages would erode religious freedoms , undermine a right of children to be raised by their biological mother and father or erode the institution of marriage itself .   Some analysts state that financial , psychological and physical well-being are enhanced by marriage , and that children of same-sex parents or carers benefit from being raised by two parents within a legally recognized union supported by society 's institutions . Court documents filed by American scientific associations also state that singling out gay men and women as ineligible for marriage both stigmatizes and invites public discrimination against them . The American Anthropological Association asserts that social science research does not support the view that either civilization or viable social orders depend upon marriage as an exclusively heterosexual institution .


Music Bank (TV series) has only been hosted by Americans.

Song Joong-ki Song Joong-ki ( ; born September 19 , 1985 ) is a South Korean actor . He rose to fame in the historical drama Sungkyunkwan Scandal ( 2010 ) and the variety show Running Man as one of the original cast members when it premiered in 2010 . Song played his first TV leading role in the melodrama The Innocent Man ( 2012 ) . He has also starred in feature films , notably as the title character in the box office hit A Werewolf Boy ( 2012 ) .   After Song 's mandatory military service , he took on the lead role in the pan-Asia hit drama Descendants of the Sun ( 2016 ) , which drew a peak audience share of 38.8 % in South Korea and established him as a top Hallyu star . He placed 7th in Forbes Korea Power Celebrity list in 2013 , and ranked 2nd in 2017 .


Music Bank (TV series) Music Bank is a South Korean music program which airs every Friday at 17:00 KST on KBS2 . As of 2015 , the show is also broadcast in more than a hundred countries through KBS World . Episodes are filmed at the KBS New Wing Open Hall in Yeouido-dong , Yeongdeungpo-gu . The show also organizes the global live concert Music Bank World Tour .   Since November 2016 , it is hosted by Lee Seo-won and Laboum 's Solbin . Past hosts include Song Hye-kyo , Rain , Ji Sung , Song Joong-ki , Uee , Yoon Bo-ra , Park Seo-joon , Irene , and Park Bo-gum .


T-Pain Faheem Rashad Najm ( born September 30 , 1985 ) , better known by his stage name T-Pain , is an American rapper , singer , songwriter and record producer from Tallahassee , Florida . His debut album , Rappa Ternt Sanga , was released in 2005 . In 2007 , T-Pain released his second album Epiphany , which reached number one on the US Billboard 200 chart . His third album , Thr33 Ringz , was released in 2008 . T-Pain has also released a string of hit singles , including `` I 'm Sprung '' , `` I 'm 'n Luv ( Wit a Stripper ) '' , `` Buy U a Drank ( Shawty Snappin ' ) '' , `` Bartender '' , `` Ca n't Believe It '' , `` 5 O'Clock '' and more . T-Pain has earned two Grammy Awards , alongside artists Kanye West and Jamie Foxx respectively .   T-Pain is the founder of the record label imprint Nappy Boy Entertainment , established in 2005 . Throughout his career as a singer , T-Pain is best known for using and popularizing the creative use of the Auto-Tune pitch correction effect , used with extreme parameter settings to create distinctive vocal sounds . From 2006 to 2010 , T-Pain was featured on more than 50 chart topping singles , his most successful feature to date was on Flo Rida 's debut single `` Low '' , which has since been certified 6x platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America ( RIAA ) .


Android (operating system) Android is a mobile operating system developed by Google , based on the Linux kernel and designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets . Android 's user interface is mainly based on direct manipulation , using touch gestures that loosely correspond to real-world actions , such as swiping , tapping and pinching , to manipulate on-screen objects , along with a virtual keyboard for text input . In addition to touchscreen devices , Google has further developed Android TV for televisions , Android Auto for cars , and Android Wear for wrist watches , each with a specialized user interface . Variants of Android are also used on notebooks , game consoles , digital cameras , and other electronics .   Initially developed by Android Inc. , which Google bought in 2005 , Android was unveiled in 2007 , along with the founding of the Open Handset Alliancea consortium of hardware , software , and telecommunication companies devoted to advancing open standards for mobile devices . Beginning with the first commercial Android device in September 2008 , the operating system has gone through multiple major releases , with the current version being 7.0 `` Nougat '' , released in August 2016 . Android applications ( `` apps '' ) can be downloaded from the Google Play store , which features over 2.7 million apps as of February 2017 . Android has been the best-selling OS on tablets since 2013 , and runs on the vast majority of smartphones . , Android has two billion monthly active users , and it has the largest installed base of any operating system .   Android 's source code is released by Google under an open source license , although most Android devices ultimately ship with a combination of free and open source and proprietary software , including proprietary software required for accessing Google services . Android is popular with technology companies that require a ready-made , low-cost and customizable operating system for high-tech devices . Its open nature has encouraged a large community of developers and enthusiasts to use the open-source code as a foundation for community-driven projects , which deliver updates to older devices , add new features for advanced users or bring Android to devices originally shipped with other operating systems . The extensive variation of hardware in Android devices causes significant delays for software upgrades , with new versions of the operating system and security patches typically taking months before reaching consumers , or sometimes not at all . The success of Android has made it a target for patent and copyright litigation as part of the so-called `` smartphone wars '' between technology companies .


Kiefer Sutherland is a British-born Canadian.

Kiefer Sutherland Kiefer William Frederick Dempsey George Rufus Sutherland ( born 21 December 1966 ) is a British born Canadian actor , producer , director , and singer-songwriter . One of his better-known roles was Jack Bauer on the Fox drama series 24 ( 2001 -- 2010 ) , for which he earned an Emmy Award , a Golden Globe Award , two Screen Actors Guild Awards and two Satellite Awards .   He has also starred as Martin Bohm in the Fox drama Touch , and provided the facial motion capture and English voices for Big Boss and Venom Snake in the video games Metal Gear Solid V : Ground Zeroes and Metal Gear Solid V : The Phantom Pain . He currently stars as President Tom Kirkman in the ABC political drama series Designated Survivor .   Sutherland got his first leading film role in the Canadian drama The Bay Boy ( 1984 ) , which earned him a Genie Award nomination . Since that time he has had a successful movie career , starring in films like Stand by Me ( 1986 ) , The Lost Boys ( 1987 ) , Young Guns ( 1988 ) , Flatliners ( 1990 ) , A Few Good Men ( 1992 ) , The Three Musketeers ( 1993 ) , A Time to Kill ( 1996 ) , Dark City ( 1998 ) , Phone Booth ( 2002 ) , Melancholia ( 2011 ) , Pompeii ( 2014 ) and Forsaken ( 2016 ) .   Sutherland has been inducted to Hollywood Walk of Fame and Canada 's Walk of Fame , and further has been bestowed with a Lifetime Achievement Award from Zurich Film Festival .


BoJack Horseman BoJack Horseman is an American adult animated sitcom created by Raphael Bob-Waksberg . The series stars Will Arnett as the title character , BoJack Horseman . The supporting cast includes Amy Sedaris , Alison Brie , Paul F. Tompkins , and Aaron Paul . The series ' first season premiered on August 22 , 2014 , on Netflix , with a Christmas special premiering on December 19 . The show is designed by the cartoonist Lisa Hanawalt , who had previously worked with Bob-Waksberg on the webcomic Tip Me Over , Pour Me Out .   Despite giving mixed reviews upon its debut , critics were notably more positive towards the second half of the first season , before acclaiming the subsequent seasons . The critical consensus from Rotten Tomatoes is representative of this critical improvement , as the first season was stated to `` pale in comparison to similar comedies '' , while the consensus for season three referred to the show as `` one of the funniest and most heartbreaking shows on television '' . The series was renewed for a fourth season , scheduled to premiere in summer 2017 .


Goodison Park Goodison Park is a football stadium located in Walton , Liverpool , England . The stadium has been home to Premier League club Everton since its completion in 1892 and is one of the world 's oldest purpose-built football grounds . The stadium is built in a residential area served by regular rail and bus services two miles ( 3 km ) from Liverpool city centre .   Goodison has undergone many changes over the years and it presently has an all-seated capacity of 40,157 . Everton fans refer to the stadium as `` The Grand Old Lady '' and the abridged `` Goodison '' .   It has hosted more top-flight games than any other stadium in England . Goodison has hosted the maximum number of league games since the Premier League was formed in 1992 , as Everton have remained in the top tier of English football since 1954 . The club has only been outside the top division for four seasons , having only been relegated twice ( in 1930 and 1951 ) .   As well as hosting Everton games , the stadium has been the venue for an FA Cup Final and numerous international fixtures , including several in the 1966 FIFA World Cup . The record for the highest attendance in women 's football in England was set at Goodison Park in 1920 , which stood for 92 years until 31 July 2012 .


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


Everton F.C. Everton F.C. -LSB- ˈɛvərtən -RSB- is a football club in Liverpool , England , that currently competes in the Premier League , the top flight of English football . The club have competed in the top division for a record 114 seasons and won the League Championship nine times , and the FA Cup five times .   Formed in 1878 , Everton were founding members of The Football League in 1888 and won their first League Championship two seasons later . Following four League Championship and two FA Cup wins , Everton experienced a lull in the immediate post World War Two period , until a revival in the 1960s , which saw the club win two League Championships and an FA Cup . The mid-1980s represented their most recent period of sustained success , with two League Championships , an FA Cup , and the 1985 European Cup Winners ' Cup . The club 's most recent major trophy was the 1995 FA Cup .   The club 's supporters are known as Evertonians . Everton have a rivalry with neighbours Liverpool , and the two sides contest the Merseyside derby . The club have been based at Goodison Park in Walton , Liverpool , since 1892 , after moving from Anfield following a row over its rent . The club 's home colours are royal blue shirts with white shorts and socks .


The X Factor (UK series 7) The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent . The seventh series started on ITV on 21 August 2010 and ended on 12 December 2010 . The winner was Matt Cardle and his debut single `` When We Collide '' was released after the final . Cardle was mentored throughout by Dannii Minogue , who won as mentor for the second time . A total of 15,448,019 votes were cast throughout the series . It was presented by Dermot O'Leary , with spin-off show The Xtra Factor presented by Konnie Huq on ITV2 , who took over from Holly Willoughby .   The competition was split into several stages : auditions , bootcamp , judges ' houses and live shows . Auditions took place throughout June and July 2010 , with Simon Cowell , Louis Walsh and Cheryl Cole returning as judges . Minogue missed the auditions and bootcamp due to being on maternity leave , so Geri Halliwell , Natalie Imbruglia , Katy Perry , Pixie Lott and Nicole Scherzinger were brought in as guest judges . Cole missed the auditions in Manchester and bootcamp because she had malaria . Following bootcamp , successful acts were split into four categories : Boys ( male soloists aged 16 to 28 ) , Girls ( female soloists aged 16 to 28 ) , Over 28s ( soloists aged 29 and over ) and Groups . Minogue and Cole returned for the judges ' houses stage , and each judge mentored eight acts through judges ' houses . The live shows started on 9 October 2010 . Four acts eliminated at judges ' houses were brought back as wildcards , making this the first series to have 16 acts perform in the live shows .   This was the first series of the show to be filmed in high definition , and was simulcast on ITV1 HD and STV HD . From October , The Xtra Factor was also shown in high definition , simulcast on the new channel ITV2 HD . It was sponsored by TalkTalk in the United Kingdom and Dominos Pizza in Ireland .   This series proved to be highly controversial , with many people complaining about the use of pitch correction software on the broadcast of contestants ' auditions , the decision to form two groups out of rejected soloists , the rejection of popular contestant Gamu Nhengu at judges ' houses and Cole 's failure to vote to eliminate an act in week 5 of the live shows . Controversy also surrounded contestants Shirlena Johnson , who was axed over fears for her mental health , and Treyc Cohen , who was reported to already have a record deal when the live shows started . There were also accusations of fixing , which were denied by the show 's producers . It was the most watched series to date , with an average of 14.13 million viewers per episode . The final was watched by 17.71 million people , making it the highest rated television episode of 2010 in the UK .


Xbox Xbox is a video gaming brand created and owned by Microsoft . It represents a series of video game consoles developed by Microsoft , with three consoles released in the sixth , seventh , and eighth generations respectively . The brand also represents applications ( games ) , streaming services , and an online service by the name of Xbox Live . The brand was first introduced on November 15 , 2001 in the United States , with the launch of the original Xbox console .   That original device was the first video game console offered by an American company after the Atari Jaguar stopped sales in 1996 . It reached over 24 million units sold as of May 10 , 2006 . Microsoft 's second console , the Xbox 360 , was released in 2005 and has sold over 77.2 million consoles worldwide as of April 18 , 2013 . The successor to the Xbox 360 and Microsoft 's most recent console , the Xbox One , was revealed on May 21 , 2013 . The Xbox One has been released in 21 markets in total , with a Chinese release on September 29 , 2014 . The head of Xbox is Phil Spencer , who succeeded former head Marc Whitten in late March 2014 .


Xbox (console) The Xbox is a home video game console and the first installment in the Xbox series of consoles manufactured by Microsoft . It was released on November 15 , 2001 in North America , followed by Australia , Europe and Japan in 2002 . It was Microsoft 's first foray into the gaming console market . The sixth-generation console competed with Sony 's PlayStation 2 and the Nintendo GameCube . It was also the first console produced by an American company since the Atari Jaguar ceased production in 1996 .   Announced in 2000 , the Xbox , graphically powerful compared to its rivals , featured a standard PC 's 733 MHz Intel Pentium III processor . It was also noted for its PC-like size and weight , and was the first console to feature a built-in hard disk . In November 2002 , Microsoft launched Xbox Live , a fee-based online gaming service that enabled subscribers to download new content and connect with other players through a broadband connection . Unlike other online services from Sega and Sony , Xbox Live had support in the original console design through an integrated Ethernet port . The service gave Microsoft an early foothold in online gaming and would help the Xbox become a relevant competitor to other sixth-generation consoles . The popularity of blockbuster titles such as Halo 2 contributed to the popularity of online console gaming , and in particular first-person shooters . Despite this and being in second position , ahead of Nintendo 's GameCube and Sega 's Dreamcast , sales of the Xbox were always well behind Sony 's PlayStation 2 .   Xbox 's successor , the Xbox 360 , was launched in November 2005 . The Xbox was soon discontinued beginning with Microsoft 's worst-performing market , Japan , in 2005 . Other countries would follow suit in 2006 . The last Xbox game in Europe was Xiaolin Showdown released in June 2007 , and the last game in North America was Madden NFL 09 released in August 2008 . Support for out-of-warranty Xbox consoles was discontinued on March 2 , 2009 . Support for Xbox Live on the console ended on April 15 , 2010 .


PlayStation 4 PlayStation 4 ( PS4 ) is a line of home video game consoles developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment . Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 3 during a press conference on February 20 , 2013 , it was launched on November 15 in North America , November 29 in Europe , South America and Australia ; and February 22 , 2014 , in Japan . It competes with Nintendo 's Wii U and Microsoft 's Xbox One , as part of the eighth generation of video game consoles .   Moving away from the more complex Cell microarchitecture of its predecessor , the console features an AMD Accelerated Processing Unit ( APU ) built upon the x86-64 architecture , which can theoretically peak at 1.84 teraflops ; AMD stated that it was the `` most powerful '' APU it had developed to date . The PlayStation 4 places an increased emphasis on social interaction and integration with other devices and services , including the ability to play games off-console on PlayStation Vita and other supported devices ( `` Remote Play '' ) , the ability to stream gameplay online or to friends , with them controlling gameplay remotely ( `` Share Play '' ) . The console 's controller was also redesigned and improved over the PlayStation 3 , with improved buttons and analog sticks , and an integrated touchpad among other changes . The console also supports HDR10 high-dynamic-range color and playback of 4K multimedia .   Reception to the original PlayStation 4 model was positive , with critics praising Sony for acknowledging its consumers ' needs , embrace of independent game development , and for not imposing restrictive digital rights management schemes that Microsoft had previously announced for Xbox One prior to its release . Critics and third-party studios also praised the capabilities of the PlayStation 4 in comparison to its competitors ; developers described the performance difference between the console and Xbox One as being `` significant '' and `` obvious '' . Heightened demand also helped Sony top global console sales . By the end of 2016 , more than 53 million consoles have been sold worldwide , with more than 57 million shipped .   On September 7 , 2016 , Sony unveiled two hardware revisions of PlayStation 4 ; a slim build of the console , and a `` Pro '' version with an upgraded GPU and higher CPU clock rate to support 4K gameplay on supported titles .


Xbox One Xbox One is a line of home video game consoles developed by Microsoft . Announced in May 2013 , it is the successor to Xbox 360 and the third console in the Xbox family . It was first released in North America , parts of Europe , Australia , and Brazil in November 2013 , and in Japan , China , and other European countries in September 2014 . It is the first Xbox game console to be released in China , specifically in the Shanghai Free-Trade Zone . Microsoft marketed the device as an `` all-in-one entertainment system '' . The Xbox One line mainly competes against consoles such as Sony 's PlayStation 4 and Nintendo 's Wii U as part of the eighth generation of video game consoles .   Moving away from its predecessor 's PowerPC-based architecture , Xbox One marks a shift back to the x86 architecture used in the original Xbox ; it features an AMD Accelerated Processing Unit ( APU ) built around the x86-64 instruction set . Xbox One 's controller was redesigned over the Xbox 360 's , with a redesigned body , D-pad and triggers capable of delivering directional haptic feedback . The console places an increased emphasis on cloud computing , as well as social networking features , and the ability to record and share video clips or screenshots from gameplay , or live-stream directly to streaming services such as Mixer and Twitch . Games can also be played off-console via a local area network on supported Windows 10 devices . The console can play Blu-ray Disc , and overlay live television programming from an existing set-top box or a digital tuner for digital terrestrial television with an enhanced program guide . The console optionally included a redesigned Kinect sensor , marketed as the `` Kinect 2.0 '' , providing improved motion tracking and voice recognition for use in its graphical user interface ( GUI ) and games .   Xbox One received mostly positive reception for its refined controller design , multimedia features , and voice navigation . Its quieter and cooler design was praised for making the console more reliable than its predecessor on-launch , but the console was generally criticized for running games at a technically lower graphical level than the PlayStation 4 . Its original user interface was panned for being nonintuitive , although changes made to it and other aspects of the console 's software post-launch received positive reception . Its Kinect received praise for its improved motion-tracking accuracy , its face recognition logins , and its voice commands .   In August 2016 , Microsoft released a refreshed Xbox One model known as Xbox One S ; it has a streamlined design , native support for 4K video playback and upscaling , and HDR10 high-dynamic-range color . It was praised for its smaller size , its on-screen visual improvements , and its lack of an external power supply , but its regressions such as the lack of a native Kinect port were noted . A future hardware revision codenamed `` Project Scorpio '' is scheduled for late-2017 ; it will feature major hardware upgrades focused on enabling 4K gameplay and support for virtual reality hardware , and will be backward compatible with all existing Xbox One software and hardware .


Born This Way (song) `` Born This Way '' is a song by American singer Lady Gaga , and the lead single from her second studio album of the same name . Written by Gaga and Jeppe Laursen , who produced it along with Fernando Garibay and DJ White Shadow , the track was developed while Gaga was on the road with The Monster Ball Tour . Inspired by 1990s music which empowered women and the gay community , Gaga explained that `` Born This Way '' was her freedom song . She sang part of the chorus at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards in 2010 and announced the song as the lead single from the album , released on February 11 , 2011 .   The record is backed by rumbling synth sounds , a humming bass and additional chorus percussion , with sole organ toward the end . The lyrics discuss the self-empowerment of minorities including the LGBT community as well as racial minorities , referring to `` cholas '' and `` orients '' , which drew criticism from Latino and Asian communities . Critics positively reviewed the song , calling it a `` club-ready anthem '' , though it faced criticism for having similarities with Madonna 's 1989 single `` Express Yourself '' . The song reached number one in over 25 countries and was her third single to top the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and the 1,000 th song in that chart 's history ( since 1958 ) to reach number one . `` Born This Way '' has sold 8.2 million copies worldwide , becoming one of the best-selling singles of all time .   Nick Knight directed the accompanying music video , which was inspired by surrealist painters like Salvador Dalí and Francis Bacon . Gaga is depicted as giving birth to a new race during a prologue . After a series of dance sequences , the video concludes with the view of a city populated by this race . Critics noted the video 's references to the work of Madonna , Michael Jackson , Björk , and the late fashion designer Alexander McQueen , as well as to Greek mythology and surrealism .   Gaga performed the song at the 53rd Grammy Awards after coming out of an incubating vessel . It was also performed during the last leg of The Monster Ball Tour and on television shows such as Saturday Night Live , Dick Clark 's New Year 's Rockin ' Eve and Good Morning America . The song was treated with different remixes , including a `` Country Road '' version recorded by Gaga herself and another by Indian production duo Salim-Sulaiman . Alice Cooper , Madonna , Katy Perry , Maria Aragon , and the cast of the TV series Glee have covered the song .


Jeremy Irons Jeremy John Irons ( born 19 September 1948 ) is an English actor . After receiving classical training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School , Irons began his acting career on stage in 1969 and has since appeared in many West End theatre productions , including The Winter 's Tale , Macbeth , Much Ado About Nothing , The Taming of the Shrew , Godspell , Richard II , and Embers . In 1984 , he made his Broadway debut in Tom Stoppard 's The Real Thing and received a Tony Award for Best Actor .   Irons ' first major film role came in the 1981 romantic drama The French Lieutenant 's Woman , for which he received a BAFTA nomination for Best Actor . After starring in dramas such as Moonlighting ( 1982 ) , Betrayal ( 1983 ) , and The Mission ( 1986 ) , he gained critical acclaim for portraying twin gynaecologists in David Cronenberg 's psychological thriller Dead Ringers ( 1988 ) . In 1990 , Irons played accused murderer Claus von Bülow in Reversal of Fortune , and took home multiple awards , including an Academy Award for Best Actor .   Other notable films have included Steven Soderbergh 's mystery thriller Kafka ( 1991 ) , the period drama The House of the Spirits ( 1993 ) , the romantic drama M. Butterfly ( 1993 ) , the voice of Scar in Disney 's The Lion King ( 1994 ) , Simon Gruber in the action film Die Hard with a Vengeance ( 1995 ) , the drama Lolita ( 1997 ) , Musketeer Aramis in The Man in the Iron Mask ( 1998 ) , the action adventure Dungeons & Dragons ( 2000 ) , the drama The Merchant of Venice ( 2004 ) , the drama Being Julia ( 2004 ) , the epic historical drama Kingdom of Heaven ( 2005 ) , the fantasy-adventure Eragon ( 2006 ) , the Western Appaloosa ( 2008 ) , and the indie drama Margin Call ( 2011 ) . In 2016 , he appeared in Assassin 's Creed and , starting that year , he plays Alfred Pennyworth in the DC Extended Universe , beginning with Batman v Superman : Dawn of Justice , and later reprising the role in Justice League ( 2017 ) and The Batman ( TBA ) .   Irons has also made several notable appearances on TV . He earned his first Golden Globe Award nomination for his break-out role in the ITV series Brideshead Revisited ( 1981 ) . In 2005 , Irons starred opposite Helen Mirren in the historical miniseries Elizabeth I , for which he received a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actor . From 2011 to 2013 he starred as Pope Alexander VI in the Showtime historical series The Borgias . He is one of the few actors who won the `` Triple Crown of Acting '' , winning an Academy Award ( for film ) , an Emmy Award ( television ) and a Tony Award ( for theatre ) . In October 2011 , he was nominated Goodwill Ambassador of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations .


Kafka (film) Kafka is a 1991 mystery thriller film directed by Steven Soderbergh . Ostensibly a biopic , based on the life of Franz Kafka , the film blurs the lines between fact and Kafka 's fiction ( most notably The Castle and The Trial ) , creating a Kafkaesque atmosphere . It was written by Lem Dobbs , and stars Jeremy Irons in the title role , with Theresa Russell , Ian Holm , Jeroen Krabbé , Joel Grey , Armin Mueller-Stahl , and Alec Guinness .   Released after Soderbergh 's critically acclaimed debut Sex , Lies , and Videotape it was the first of what would be a series of low-budget box-office disappointments . It has since become a cult film , being compared to Terry Gilliam 's Brazil and David Cronenberg 's Naked Lunch ( all of which star Ian Holm ) .


David Beckham signed a contract with LA Galaxy.

David Beckham David Robert Joseph Beckham , ( -LSB- ˈbɛkəm -RSB- born 2 May 1975 ) is an English former professional footballer . He played for Manchester United , Preston North End , Real Madrid , Milan , LA Galaxy , Paris Saint-Germain , and the England national team for which he held the appearance record for an outfield player until 2016 when Wayne Rooney surpassed his total . He is the first English player to win league titles in four countries : England , Spain , the United States and France . He announced his retirement in May 2013 after a 20-year career , during which he won 19 major trophies .   Known for his range of passing , crossing ability and bending free-kicks as a right winger , Beckham was runner up in the Ballon d'Or , twice runner-up for FIFA World Player of the Year and in 2004 he was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 list of the world 's greatest living players . He was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2008 . A global ambassador for the sport , Beckham is regarded as a British cultural icon .   Beckham 's professional club career began with Manchester United , where he made his first-team debut in 1992 aged 17 . With United , he won the Premier League title six times , the FA Cup twice , and the UEFA Champions League in 1999 . He then played four seasons with Real Madrid , winning the La Liga championship in his final season with the club . In July 2007 Beckham signed a five-year contract with Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy . While a Galaxy player , he spent two loan spells in Italy with Milan in 2009 and 2010 . He was the first British footballer to play 100 UEFA Champions League games .   In international football , Beckham made his England debut on 1 September 1996 at the age of 21 . He was captain for six years , earning 58 caps during his tenure . He made 115 career appearances in total , appearing at three FIFA World Cup tournaments , in 1998 , 2002 and 2006 , and two UEFA European Championship tournaments , in 2000 and 2004 .   Beckham has consistently ranked among the highest earners in football , and in 2013 he was listed as the highest-paid player in the world , earning over $ 50 million in the previous 12 months . He has been married to Victoria Beckham since 1999 and they have four children . He has been a UNICEF UK ambassador since 2005 , and in 2015 he launched 7 : The David Beckham UNICEF Fund . In 2014 , MLS announced Beckham and a group of investors would own an expansion team in Miami , which would begin in 2016 or 2017 .


LA Galaxy The LA Galaxy , also known as the Los Angeles Galaxy , is an American professional soccer franchise based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson , California , that competes in Major League Soccer ( MLS ) , as a member of the Western Conference of the league . The club began play in 1996 as a charter team in the league .   The Galaxy was founded in 1994 and is owned by Anschutz Entertainment Group . In their early years , the club played their home games at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena , California . Since 2003 , they have played at the StubHub Center in Carson , California . The team holds a fierce rivalry with the San Jose Earthquakes in the California Clásico , and used to play the SuperClasico against city rivals Chivas USA before they folded in 2014 .   In Major League Soccer , the franchise is one of the league 's most-decorated clubs , having won the MLS Cup on five occasions -- more than any other club -- the Supporters ' Shield four times , the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup twice , and the old CONCACAF Champions ' Cup in 2000 , being one of just two American clubs , along with D.C. United , to win the regional tournament .   In 2007 , the club made international headlines with the signing of English player David Beckham from Real Madrid , the most high-profile transaction in Major League Soccer to that point . The club has fielded other international players including Robbie Keane , Luis Hernández , Giovani dos Santos , Jorge Campos , Steven Gerrard , Ashley Cole and American Landon Donovan who is the all-time leading scorer for both the club and the league .


Bertrand Russell's work has had a great deal of influence on set theory.

Bertrand Russell Bertrand Arthur William Russell , 3rd Earl Russell , ( -LSB- ˈrʌsəl -RSB- 18 May 1872 -- 2 February 1970 ) was a British philosopher , logician , mathematician , historian , writer , social critic , political activist and Nobel laureate . At various points in his life he considered himself a liberal , a socialist , and a pacifist , but he also admitted that he had `` never been any of these things , in any profound sense '' . He was born in Monmouthshire into one of the most prominent aristocratic families in the United Kingdom .   In the early 20th century , Russell led the British `` revolt against idealism '' . He is considered one of the founders of analytic philosophy along with his predecessor Gottlob Frege , colleague G. E. Moore , and protégé Ludwig Wittgenstein . He is widely held to be one of the 20th century 's premier logicians . With A. N. Whitehead he wrote Principia Mathematica , an attempt to create a logical basis for mathematics . His philosophical essay `` On Denoting '' has been considered a `` paradigm of philosophy '' . His work has had a considerable influence on mathematics , logic , set theory , linguistics , artificial intelligence , cognitive science , computer science ( see type theory and type system ) , and philosophy , especially the philosophy of language , epistemology , and metaphysics .   Russell mostly was a prominent anti-war activist ; he championed anti-imperialism . Occasionally , he advocated preventive nuclear war , before the opportunity provided by the atomic monopoly had passed , and `` welcomed with enthusiasm '' world government . He went to prison for his pacifism during World War I. Later , he campaigned against Adolf Hitler , then criticised Stalinist totalitarianism , attacked the involvement of the United States in the Vietnam War , and was an outspoken proponent of nuclear disarmament . In 1950 Russell was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature `` in recognition of his varied and significant writings in which he champions humanitarian ideals and freedom of thought '' .


Miriam Margolyes was included in James and the Giant Peach.

James and the Giant Peach (film) James and the Giant Peach is a 1996 British-American musical fantasy film directed by Henry Selick , based on the 1961 novel of the same name by Roald Dahl . It was produced by Tim Burton and Denise Di Novi , directed by Henry Selick , and starred Paul Terry as James . The film is a combination of live action and stop-motion animation . Co-stars Joanna Lumley and Miriam Margolyes played James 's aunts in the live-action segments , and Simon Callow , Richard Dreyfuss , Susan Sarandon , Jane Leeves , David Thewlis , and Margoyles voiced his insect friends in the animation sequences .


Martin Scorsese works in a media industry.

Martin Scorsese Martin Charles Scorsese ( -LSB- skɔːrˈsɛsi -RSB- -LSB- skorˈseːze -RSB- ; born November 17 , 1942 ) is an American director , producer , screenwriter , and film historian , whose career spans more than 50 years . Scorsese 's body of work addresses such themes as Sicilian-American identity , Roman Catholic concepts of guilt and redemption , faith , machismo , modern crime , and gang conflict . Many of his films are also known for their depiction of violence and liberal use of profanity .   Part of the New Hollywood wave of filmmaking , he is widely regarded as one of the most significant and influential filmmakers in cinematic history . In 1990 , he founded The Film Foundation , a nonprofit organization dedicated to film preservation , and in 2007 he founded the World Cinema Foundation . He is a recipient of the AFI Life Achievement Award for his contributions to the cinema , and has won an Academy Award , a Palme d'Or , Cannes Film Festival Best Director Award , Silver Lion , Grammy Award , Emmys , Golden Globes , BAFTAs , and DGA Awards .   He has directed works such as the crime film Mean Streets ( 1973 ) , the vigilante-thriller Taxi Driver ( 1976 ) , the biographical sports drama Raging Bull ( 1980 ) , the black comedy The King of Comedy ( 1983 ) , the religious epic drama The Last Temptation of Christ ( 1988 ) , the crime film Goodfellas ( 1990 ) , the psychological thriller Cape Fear ( 1991 ) and the crime film Casino ( 1995 ) , some of which he collaborated on with actor and close friend Robert De Niro . Scorsese has also been noted for his successful collaborations with actor Leonardo DiCaprio , having directed him in five films , beginning with Gangs of New York ( 2002 ) and most recently The Wolf of Wall Street ( 2013 ) . Their third film together , The Departed , won Scorsese the Academy Award for Best Director in addition to the film winning the award for Best Picture . Their collaborations have resulted in numerous Academy Award nominations for both as well as them winning several other prestigious awards .   Scorsese 's other film work includes the concert film The Last Waltz ( 1978 ) , the black comedy After Hours ( 1985 ) , the biographical drama The Aviator ( 2004 ) , the psychological thriller Shutter Island ( 2010 ) , the historical adventure drama Hugo ( 2011 ) and the religious epic Silence ( 2016 ) . His work in television includes the pilot episode of the HBO series Boardwalk Empire and Vinyl , the latter of which he also co-created . He won the Academy Award for Best Director for the crime drama The Departed ( 2006 ) . With eight Best Director nominations , he is the most nominated living director and is tied with Billy Wilder for the second most nominations overall .


London London -LSB- ˈlʌndən -RSB- is the capital and most populous city of England and the United Kingdom . Standing on the River Thames in the south east of the island of Great Britain , London has been a major settlement for two millennia . It was founded by the Romans , who named it Londinium . London 's ancient core , the City of London , largely retains its 1.12 sqmi medieval boundaries . Since at least the 19th century , `` London '' has also referred to the metropolis around this core , historically split between Middlesex , Essex , Surrey , Kent , and Hertfordshire , which today largely makes up Greater London , See also : Independent city § National capitals . governed by the Mayor of London and the London Assembly.The London Mayor is not to be confused with the Lord Mayor of London who heads the City of London Corporation , which administers the City of London .   London is a leading global city in the arts , commerce , education , entertainment , fashion , finance , healthcare , media , professional services , research and development , tourism , and transportation . It is crowned as the world 's largest financial centre and has the fifth - or sixth-largest metropolitan area GDP in the world.Rankings of cities by metropolitan area GDP can vary as a result of differences in the definition of the boundaries and population sizes of the areas compared , exchange rate fluctuations and the method used to calculate output . London and Paris are of broadly similar size in terms of total economic output which can result in third party sources varying as to which is the fifth-largest city GDP in the world . A report by the McKinsey Global Institute published in 2012 estimated that London had a city GDP of US$ 751.8 billion in 2010 , compared to US$ 764.2 billion for Paris , making them respectively the sixth - and fifth-largest in the world . A report by PricewaterhouseCoopers published in November 2009 estimated that London had a city GDP measured in purchasing power parity of US$ 565 billion in 2008 , compared to US$ 564 billion for Paris , making them respectively the fifth - and sixth-largest in the world . The McKinsey Global Institute study used a metropolitan area with a population of 14.9 million for London compared to 11.8 million for Paris , whilst the PricewaterhouseCoopers study used a metropolitan area with a population of 8.59 million for London compared to 9.92 million for Paris . London is a world cultural capital . It is the world 's most-visited city as measured by international arrivals and has the world 's largest city airport system measured by passenger traffic . London is the world 's leading investment destination , hosting more international retailers and ultra high-net-worth individuals than any other city . London 's universities form the largest concentration of higher education institutes in Europe . In 2012 , London became the first city to have hosted the modern Summer Olympic Games three times .   London has a diverse range of people and cultures , and more than 300 languages are spoken in the region . Its estimated mid-2015 municipal population ( corresponding to Greater London ) was 8,673,713 , the largest of any city in the European Union , and accounting for 12.5 % of the UK population . London 's urban area is the second most populous in the EU , after Paris , with 9,787,426 inhabitants at the 2011 census . The city 's metropolitan area is the most populous in the EU with 13,879,757 inhabitants , while the Greater London Authority states the population of the city-region ( covering a large part of the south east ) as 22.7 million .  London was the world 's most populous city from around 1831 to 1925 .   London contains four World Heritage Sites : the Tower of London ; Kew Gardens ; the site comprising the Palace of Westminster , Westminster Abbey , and St Margaret 's Church ; and the historic settlement of Greenwich ( in which the Royal Observatory , Greenwich marks the Prime Meridian , 0 ° longitude , and GMT ) . Other famous landmarks include Buckingham Palace , the London Eye , Piccadilly Circus , St Paul 's Cathedral , Tower Bridge , Trafalgar Square , and The Shard . London is home to numerous museums , galleries , libraries , sporting events , and other cultural institutions , including the British Museum , National Gallery , Natural History Museum , Tate Modern , British Library , and West End theatres . The London Underground is the oldest underground railway network in the world .


Renaissance The Renaissance ( -LSB- rᵻˈneɪsəns -RSB- , -LSB- rɛnəˈsɑːns -RSB- ) was a period in European history , from the 14th to the 17th century , regarded as the cultural bridge between the Middle Ages and modern history . It started as a cultural movement in Italy in the Late Medieval period and later spread to the rest of Europe , marking the beginning of the Early Modern Age .   The intellectual basis of the Renaissance was its own invented version of humanism , derived from the rediscovery of classical Greek philosophy , such as that of Protagoras , who said that `` Man is the measure of all things . '' This new thinking became manifest in art , architecture , politics , science and literature . Early examples were the development of perspective in oil painting and the recycled knowledge of how to make concrete . Although the invention of metal movable type sped the dissemination of ideas from the later 15th century , the changes of the Renaissance were not uniformly experienced across Europe .   As a cultural movement , the Renaissance encompassed innovative flowering of Latin and vernacular literatures , beginning with the 14th-century resurgence of learning based on classical sources , which contemporaries credited to Petrarch ; the development of linear perspective and other techniques of rendering a more natural reality in painting ; and gradual but widespread educational reform . In politics , the Renaissance contributed to the development of the customs and conventions of diplomacy , and in science to an increased reliance on observation and inductive reasoning . Although the Renaissance saw revolutions in many intellectual pursuits , as well as social and political upheaval , it is perhaps best known for its artistic developments and the contributions of such polymaths as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo , who inspired the term `` Renaissance man '' .   The Renaissance began in Florence , in the 14th century . Various theories have been proposed to account for its origins and characteristics , focusing on a variety of factors including the social and civic peculiarities of Florence at the time : its political structure ; the patronage of its dominant family , the Medici ; and the migration of Greek scholars and texts to Italy following the Fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks . Other major centres were northern Italian city-states such as Venice , Genoa , Milan , Bologna , and finally Rome during the Renaissance Papacy .   The Renaissance has a long and complex historiography , and , in line with general scepticism of discrete periodizations , there has been much debate among historians reacting to the 19th-century glorification of the `` Renaissance '' and individual culture heroes as `` Renaissance men '' , questioning the usefulness of Renaissance as a term and as a historical delineation . The art historian Erwin Panofsky observed of this resistance to the concept of `` Renaissance '' :   It is perhaps no accident that the factuality of the Italian Renaissance has been most vigorously questioned by those who are not obliged to take a professional interest in the aesthetic aspects of civilization -- historians of economic and social developments , political and religious situations , and , most particularly , natural science -- but only exceptionally by students of literature and hardly ever by historians of Art .   Some observers have called into question whether the Renaissance was a cultural `` advance '' from the Middle Ages , instead seeing it as a period of pessimism and nostalgia for classical antiquity , while social and economic historians , especially of the longue durée , have instead focused on the continuity between the two eras , which are linked , as Panofsky observed , `` by a thousand ties '' .   The word Renaissance , literally meaning `` Rebirth '' in French , first appeared in English in the 1830s . The word also occurs in Jules Michelet 's 1855 work , Histoire de France . The word Renaissance has also been extended to other historical and cultural movements , such as the Carolingian Renaissance and the Renaissance of the 12th century .


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