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


Labor Pains was released on August 4 in the United States.

Labor Pains Labor Pains ( also known as Almost Pregnant in Mexico ) is a 2009 romantic comedy film written by Stacy Kramer . Originally the film was released in theatres on July 9 , 2009 , only in Europe , Latin America and United Arab Emirates . In United States , the film received a television premiere on ABC Family on July 19 , 2009 . The film drew 2.1 million viewers , a better-than-average prime-time audience for ABC Family , and per the network , was the week 's top cable film among coveted female demographic groups .   Labor Pains was directed by Lara Shapiro and was released on DVD and Blu-Ray on August 4 and 31 in the United States and United Kingdom , respectively . It was starring Lindsay Lohan , Bridgit Mendler , Luke Kirby , Chris Parnell , Cheryl Hines and Kevin Covais .


Taiwan Taiwan ( -LSB- taɪˈwɑːn -RSB- ) , officially the Republic of China ( ROC ) , is a state in East Asia . Its neighbours include China ( officially the People 's Republic of China , PRC ) to the west , Japan to the northeast , and the Philippines to the south .  Taiwan is the most populous state that is not a member of the United Nations , and also possesses the largest economy of any state outside of the UN .   The island of Taiwan , also known as Formosa , was mainly inhabited by Taiwanese aborigines before the 17th century , when Dutch and Spanish colonies opened the island to Han Chinese immigration . After a brief rule by the Kingdom of Tungning , the island was annexed by the Qing dynasty , the last dynasty of China . The Qing ceded Taiwan to Japan in 1895 after the Sino-Japanese War . While Taiwan was under Japanese rule , the Republic of China ( ROC ) was established on the mainland in 1912 after the fall of the Qing dynasty . Following the Japanese surrender to the Allies in 1945 , the ROC took control of Taiwan . However , the resumption of the Chinese Civil War led to the ROC 's loss of the mainland to the Communists , and the flight of the ROC government to Taiwan in 1949 . Although the ROC continued to claim to be the legitimate government of China , its effective jurisdiction since 1949 has been limited to Taiwan and its surrounding islands , with the main island making up 99 % of its de facto territory . As a founding member of the United Nations , the ROC continued to represent China at the United Nations until 1971 , when the PRC assumed China 's seat , causing the ROC to lose its UN membership .   In the early 1960s , Taiwan entered a period of rapid economic growth and industrialization , creating a stable industrial economy . In the 1980s and early 1990s , it changed from a one-party military dictatorship dominated by the Kuomintang to a multi-party democracy with a semi-presidential system . Taiwan is the 22nd-largest economy in the world , and its high-tech industry plays a key role in the global economy . It is ranked highly in terms of freedom of the press , healthcare , public education , economic freedom , and human development . The country benefits from a highly skilled workforce and is among the most highly educated countries in the world with one of the highest percentages of its citizens holding a tertiary education degree .   The PRC has consistently claimed sovereignty over Taiwan and asserted the ROC is no longer in legitimate existence . Under its One-China Policy the PRC refused diplomatic relations with any country that recognizes the ROC . Today only a few smaller nations recognize the ROC as the sole legal representative of China , but many other states maintain unofficial ties through representative offices and institutions that function as de facto embassies and consulates . Although Taiwan is fully self-governing , most international organizations in which the PRC participates either refuse to grant membership to Taiwan or allow it to participate only as a non-state actor . Internally , the major division in politics is between the aspirations of eventual Chinese unification or Taiwanese independence , though both sides have moderated their positions to broaden their appeal . The PRC has threatened the use of military force in response to any formal declaration of independence by Taiwan or if PRC leaders decide that peaceful unification is no longer possible .


Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra ( -LSB- sᵻˈnɑːtrə -RSB- -LSB- siˈnaːtra -RSB- ; December 12 , 1915 -- May 14 , 1998 ) was an American singer , actor , and producer who was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century . He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time , having sold more than 150 million records worldwide . Born in Hoboken , New Jersey , to Italian immigrants , Sinatra began his musical career in the swing era with bandleaders Harry James and Tommy Dorsey . Sinatra found success as a solo artist after he signed with Columbia Records in 1943 , becoming the idol of the `` bobby soxers '' . He released his debut album , The Voice of Frank Sinatra , in 1946 . Sinatra 's professional career had stalled by the early 1950s , and he turned to Las Vegas , where he became one of its best known performers as part of the Rat Pack . His career was reborn in 1953 with the success of From Here to Eternity , with his performance subsequently winning an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor . Sinatra released several critically lauded albums , including In the Wee Small Hours ( 1955 ) , Songs for Swingin ' Lovers ! ( 1956 ) , Come Fly with Me ( 1958 ) , Only the Lonely ( 1958 ) and Nice 'n' Easy ( 1960 ) .   Sinatra left Capitol in 1960 to start his own record label , Reprise Records , and released a string of successful albums . In 1965 , he recorded the retrospective September of My Years , starred in the Emmy-winning television special Frank Sinatra : A Man and His Music , and released the tracks `` Strangers in the Night '' and `` My Way '' . After releasing Sinatra at the Sands , recorded at the Sands Hotel and Casino in Vegas with frequent collaborator Count Basie in early 1966 , the following year he recorded one of his most famous collaborations with Tom Jobim , the album Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim . It was followed by 1968 's collaboration with Duke Ellington . Sinatra retired for the first time in 1971 , but came out of retirement two years later and recorded several albums and resumed performing at Caesars Palace , and reached success in 1980 with `` New York , New York '' . Using his Las Vegas shows as a home base , he toured both within the United States and internationally until a short time before his death in 1998 .   Sinatra forged a highly successful career as a film actor . After winning an Academy Award for From Here to Eternity , he starred in The Man with the Golden Arm ( 1955 ) , and received critical acclaim for his performance in The Manchurian Candidate ( 1962 ) . He appeared in various musicals such as On the Town ( 1949 ) , Guys and Dolls ( 1955 ) , High Society ( 1956 ) , and Pal Joey ( 1957 ) , winning another Golden Globe for the latter . Toward the end of his career , he became associated with playing detectives , including the title character in Tony Rome ( 1967 ) . Sinatra would later receive the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1971 . On television , The Frank Sinatra Show began on ABC in 1950 , and he continued to make appearances on television throughout the 1950s and 1960s . Sinatra was also heavily involved with politics from the mid-1940s , and actively campaigned for presidents such as Harry S. Truman , John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan , though before Kennedy 's death Sinatra 's alleged Mafia connections led to his being snubbed .   While Sinatra never formally learned how to read music , he had an impressive understanding of it , and he worked very hard from a young age to improve his abilities in all aspects of music . A perfectionist , renowned for his dress sense and performing presence , he always insisted on recording live with his band . His bright blue eyes earned him the popular nickname `` Ol' Blue Eyes '' . Sinatra led a colorful personal life , and was often involved in turbulent affairs with women , such as with his second wife Ava Gardner . He went on to marry Mia Farrow in 1966 and Barbara Marx in 1976 . Sinatra had several violent confrontations , usually with journalists he felt had crossed him , or work bosses with whom he had disagreements . He was honored at the Kennedy Center Honors in 1983 , was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Ronald Reagan in 1985 , and the Congressional Gold Medal in 1997 . Sinatra was also the recipient of eleven Grammy Awards , including the Grammy Trustees Award , Grammy Legend Award and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award . After his death , American music critic Robert Christgau called him `` the greatest singer of the 20th century '' , and he continues to be seen as an iconic figure .


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


Walter Matthau Walter Matthau ( -LSB- ˈmæθaʊ -RSB- October 1 , 1920 -- July 1 , 2000 ) was an American actor and comedian , best known for his role as Oscar Madison in The Odd Couple and its sequel 30 years later , The Odd Couple II , and his frequent collaborations with Odd Couple co-star Jack Lemmon , particularly in the '90s with Grumpy Old Men and its sequel Grumpier Old Men . He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the 1966 Billy Wilder film The Fortune Cookie . Besides the Oscar , he was the winner of BAFTA , Golden Globe and Tony awards .


Best Picture was a nomination Beasts of the Southern Wild received.

Beasts of the Southern Wild Beasts of the Southern Wild is a 2012 American drama film co-written , co-scored and directed by Benh Zeitlin . It was adapted by Zeitlin and Lucy Alibar from Alibar 's one-act play Juicy and Delicious . After playing at film festivals , it was released on June 27 , 2012 , in New York and Los Angeles , and later distribution was expanded .   The film was nominated for four Academy Awards at the 85th Academy Awards , in the categories Best Picture , Best Director ( Benh Zeitlin ) , Best Adapted Screenplay ( Lucy Alibar , Benh Zeitlin ) , and Best Actress ( Quvenzhané Wallis ) . At age 9 , Wallis became the youngest Best Actress nominee in history .


Futurama Futurama is an American animated science fiction sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company . The series follows the adventures of a late-20th-century New York City pizza delivery boy , Philip J. Fry , who , after being unwittingly cryogenically frozen for one thousand years , finds employment at Planet Express , an interplanetary delivery company in the retro-futuristic 31st century . The series was envisioned by Groening in the mid-1990s while working on The Simpsons ; he later brought David X. Cohen aboard to develop storylines and characters to pitch the show to Fox .   In the United States , the series aired on Fox from March 28 , 1999 , to August 10 , 2003 , before ceasing production . Futurama also aired in reruns on Cartoon Network 's Adult Swim from 2003 to 2007 , until the network 's contract expired . It was revived in 2007 as four direct-to-video films ; the last of which was released in early 2009 . Comedy Central entered into an agreement with 20th Century Fox Television to syndicate the existing episodes and air the films as 16 new , half-hour episodes , constituting a fifth season .   In June 2009 , producing studio 20th Century Fox announced that Comedy Central had picked up the show for 26 new half-hour episodes , which began airing in 2010 and 2011 . The show was renewed for a seventh season , with the first half airing in June 2012 and the second set for mid-2013 . It was later revealed that the seventh season would be the final season , as Comedy Central announced that they would not be commissioning any further episodes . The series finale aired on September 4 , 2013 . While Groening has said he will try to get it picked up by another network , David X. Cohen stated that the episode `` Meanwhile '' would be the last episode of season 7 and also the series finale .   Throughout its run , Futurama has received critical acclaim . The show has been nominated for 17 Annie Awards and 12 Emmy Awards , winning seven of the former and six of the latter . It has also been nominated four times for a Writers Guild of America Award , winning two for the episodes `` Godfellas '' and `` The Prisoner of Benda '' , been nominated for a Nebula Award and has received Environmental Media Awards for episodes `` The Problem with Popplers '' and `` The Futurama Holiday Spectacular '' . Futurama-related merchandise has also been released , including a tie-in comic book series and video game , calendars , clothes and figurines . In 2013 , TV Guide ranked Futurama as one of the top 60 Greatest TV Cartoons of All Time .


Greater St. Louis Greater St. Louis is the metropolitan area that completely surrounds and includes the independent city of St. Louis ( the principal city ) . It includes parts of both the U.S. states of Missouri and Illinois . The city core is on the border to Illinois and collectively the two regions form the combined metropolitan area . St. Louis is the largest metro area in Missouri , and is the second largest in Illinois . St. Louis County is independent of the city of St. Louis and their two populations are generally tabulated separately .   Depending on the counties included in the area , it can refer to the St. Louis , MO-IL metropolitan statistical area ( MSA ) or the St. Louis-St . Charles-Farmington , MO-IL combined statistical area ( CSA ) . As well as the city St. Louis , the area serves the Southern Illinois counties of Bond , Calhoun , Clinton , Jersey , Macoupin , Madison , Monroe , and St. Clair ( known collectively as the Metro East ) ; the Missouri counties of Franklin , Jefferson , Lincoln , St. Charles , St. Louis County ( separate from and not inclusive of the city of St. Louis ) , Warren , Washington , and a portion of Crawford County . The CSA includes all of the MSA listed above and the Farmington , MO micropolitan statistical area , which includes Washington and St. Francois Counties . The CSA was the 19th largest in the United States in 2015 , with a population of 2,916,447 , while the MSA was the 20th largest in the country that year with a population of 2,811,588 .   The region is home to nine Fortune 500 companies : Express Scripts , Emerson Electric , Monsanto , Reinsurance Group of America , Centene , Peabody Energy , Ameren , Graybar Electric , and Edward Jones .   The area received the All-America City Award in 2008 .


Ozark Mountain forests The Ozark Mountain forests are a temperate broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion of the central United States delineated by the World Wide Fund for Nature . The ecoregion covers an area of 23,900 square miles ( 62,000 square kilometers ) in northern Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma .   The Boston Mountains and Ouachita Mountains are the main mountain ranges of the region .


Appalachian Mountains The Appalachian Mountains ( -LSB- æpəˈlæʃᵻn , _ - ˈleɪtʃᵻn -RSB- , There are at least eight possible pronunciations depending on three factors :  Whether the stressed vowel is -LSB- slinkeɪ -RSB- or -LSB- slinkæ -RSB- ,  Whether the `` ch '' is pronounced as a fricative -LSB- slinkʃ -RSB- or an affricate -LSB- slinktʃ -RSB- , and  Whether the final - ia is the monophthong -LSB- slinkᵻ -RSB- or the vowel sequence -LSB- iə -RSB- . les Appalaches ) , often called the Appalachians , are a system of mountains in eastern North America . The Appalachians first formed roughly 480 million years ago during the Ordovician Period . It once reached elevations similar to those of the Alps and the Rocky Mountains before naturally occurring erosion . The Appalachian chain is a barrier to east-west travel , as it forms a series of alternating ridgelines and valleys oriented in opposition to most roads running east or west .   Definitions vary on the precise boundaries of the Appalachians . The United States Geological Survey ( USGS ) defines the Appalachian Highlands physiographic division as consisting of thirteen provinces : the Atlantic Coast Uplands , Eastern Newfoundland Atlantic , Maritime Acadian Highlands , Maritime Plain , Notre Dame and Mégantic Mountains , Western Newfoundland Mountains , Piedmont , Blue Ridge , Valley and Ridge , Saint Lawrence Valley , Appalachian Plateaus , New England province , and the Adirondack provinces . < ref  name = `` USGS-Water '' >  </ref> A common variant definition does not include the Adirondack Mountains , which geologically belong to the Grenville Orogeny and have a different geological history from the rest of the Appalachians . < ref  name = geomorph > </ref> < ref  name = peakbag >  </ref> < ref  name = weidensaul >  </ref>


Kansas Kansas -LSB- ˈkænzəs -RSB- is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States . Its capital is Topeka and its largest city is Wichita . Kansas is named after the Kansa Native American tribe , which inhabited the area . The tribe 's name ( natively kką : ze ) is often said to mean `` people of the ( south ) wind '' although this was probably not the term 's original meaning . For thousands of years , what is now Kansas was home to numerous and diverse Native American tribes . Tribes in the eastern part of the state generally lived in villages along the river valleys . Tribes in the western part of the state were semi-nomadic and hunted large herds of bison .   Kansas was first settled by European Americans in 1812 , in what is now Bonner Springs , Kansas , but the pace of settlement accelerated in the 1850s , in the midst of political wars over the slavery issue . When it was officially opened to settlement by the U.S. government in 1854 with the Kansas -- Nebraska Act , abolitionist Free-Staters from New England and pro-slavery settlers from neighboring Missouri rushed to the territory to determine whether Kansas would become a free state or a slave state . Thus , the area was a hotbed of violence and chaos in its early days as these forces collided , and was known as Bleeding Kansas . The abolitionists prevailed , and on January 29 , 1861 , Kansas entered the Union as a free state . After the Civil War , the population of Kansas grew rapidly when waves of immigrants turned the prairie into farmland .   By 2015 , Kansas was one of the most productive agricultural states , producing high yields of wheat , corn , sorghum , and soybeans . Kansas , which has an area of 82,278 sqmi is the 15th-largest state by area and is the 34th most-populous of the 50 states with a population of 2,911,641 . Residents of Kansas are called Kansans . Mount Sunflower is Kansas 's highest point at 4,041 ft.


Ozarks The Ozarks , also referred to as the Ozark Mountains , Ozarks Mountain Country , and the Ozark Plateau , is a physiographic and geologic highland region of the central United States , primarily in Arkansas , Missouri , and Oklahoma . The Ozarks cover a significant portion of southern Missouri , extending as far northeast as the southwestern suburbs of St. Louis . In Arkansas , a large portion is contained within the northwestern and northcentral region . Much smaller pieces of the Ozarks extend westward into northeastern Oklahoma and extreme southeastern Kansas .   The Shawnee Hills of southwest Illinois , which lie near the eastern edge of this region , are commonly called the `` Illinois Ozarks , '' but are generally not considered part of the true Ozarks .   Although sometimes referred to as the Ozark Mountains , the region is actually a high and deeply dissected plateau . Geologically , the area is a broad dome around the Saint Francois Mountains . The Ozark Highlands area , covering nearly 47000 sqmi , is by far the most extensive mountainous region between the Appalachians and the Rocky Mountains . Together , the Ozarks and Ouachita Mountains form an area known as the U.S. Interior Highlands , and are sometimes referred to collectively . For example , the ecoregion called Ozark Mountain Forests includes the Ouachita Mountains , although the Arkansas River Valley and the Ouachitas , both south of the Boston Mountains , are not usually considered part of the Ozarks .


Arkansas Arkansas ( -LSB- ˈɑrkənsɔː -RSB- ) is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States . Its name is of Siouan derivation from the language of the Osage denoting their related kin , the Quapaw Indians . The state 's diverse geography ranges from the mountainous regions of the Ozark and the Ouachita Mountains , which make up the U.S. Interior Highlands , to the densely forested land in the south known as the Arkansas Timberlands , to the eastern lowlands along the Mississippi River and the Arkansas Delta .   Arkansas is the 29th largest by area and the 33rd most populous of the 50 United States . The capital and most populous city is Little Rock , located in the central portion of the state , a hub for transportation , business , culture , and government . The northwestern corner of the state , such as the Fayetteville -- Springdale -- Rogers Metropolitan Area and Fort Smith metropolitan area , is a population , education , and economic center . The largest city in the eastern part of the state is Jonesboro . The largest city in the southeastern part of the state is Pine Bluff .   The Territory of Arkansas was admitted to the Union as the 25th state on June 15 , 1836 . In 1861 Arkansas withdrew from the United States and joined the Confederate States of America during the Civil War . Upon returning to the Union in 1868 , the state would continue to suffer due to its earlier reliance on slavery and the plantation economy , causing the state to fall behind economically and socially . White rural interests continued to dominate the state 's politics until the Civil Rights Movement . Arkansas began to diversify its economy following World War II and relies on its service industry , aircraft , poultry , steel , tourism , cotton , and rice .   The culture of Arkansas is observable in museums , theaters , novels , television shows , restaurants , and athletic venues across the state . Arkansas 's enduring image has earned the state `` a special place in the American consciousness '' , people such as politician and educational advocate William Fulbright , former President Bill Clinton ( and his wife , former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton ) , former NATO Supreme Allied Commander General Wesley Clark , Walmart magnate Sam Walton , singer-songwriters Johnny Cash and Glen Campbell , the poet C.D. Wright , and physicist William L. McMillan , who was a pioneer in superconductor research ; have all lived in Arkansas .


Ouachita Mountains The Ouachita Mountains ( -LSB- ˈwɒʃᵻtɔː -RSB- ) are a mountain range in west central Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma . The range 's subterranean roots may extend as far as central Texas , or beyond it to the current location of the Marathon Uplift . Along with the Ozark Mountains , the Ouachita Mountains form the U.S. Interior Highlands , one of the few major mountainous regions between the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains . The highest peak in the Ouachitas is Mount Magazine in west-central Arkansas which rises to 2753 ft.


Oklahoma Oklahoma ( -LSB- oʊkləˈhoʊmə -RSB- Cherokee : Asgaya gigageyi / ᎠᏍᎦᏯ ᎩᎦᎨᏱ ; Pawnee : Uukuhuúwa , Cayuga : Gahnawiyoˀgeh ) is a state in the South Central region of the United States . It is the 20th-most extensive and the 28th-most populous of the 50 United States . The state 's name is derived from the Choctaw words okla and humma , meaning `` red people . '' It is also known informally by its nickname , `` The Sooner State , '' in reference to the non-Native settlers who staked their claims on the choicest pieces of land before the official opening date and the Indian Appropriations Act of 1889 , which opened the door for white settlement in America 's Indian Territory . The name was settled upon statehood . Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory were merged and Indian was dropped from the name . On November 16 , 1907 , Oklahoma became the 46th state to enter the union . Its residents are known as Oklahomans , '' or informally `` Okies '' , and its capital and largest city is Oklahoma City .   A major producer of natural gas , oil , and agricultural products , Oklahoma relies on an economic base of aviation , energy , telecommunications , and biotechnology . In 2007 , it had one of the fastest-growing economies in the United States , ranking among the top states in per capita income growth and gross domestic product growth . Both Oklahoma City and Tulsa serve as Oklahoma 's primary economic anchors , with nearly two-thirds of Oklahomans living within their metropolitan statistical areas .   With small mountain ranges , prairie , mesas , and eastern forests , most of Oklahoma lies in the Great Plains , Cross Timbers , and the U.S. Interior Highlands , a region prone mainly to severe weather . In addition to having a prevalence of English , German , Scottish , Scotch-Irish , and Native American ancestry , more than 25 Native American languages are spoken in Oklahoma , third only to Alaska and California .   Oklahoma is on a confluence of three major American cultural regions and historically served as a route for cattle drives , a destination for southern settlers , and a government-sanctioned territory for Native Americans .


Rocky Mountains The Rocky Mountains , commonly known as the Rockies , are a major mountain range in western North America . The Rocky Mountains stretch more than 3000 mi from the northernmost part of British Columbia , in western Canada , to New Mexico , in the Southwestern United States . Within the North American Cordillera , the Rockies are somewhat distinct from the Pacific Coast Ranges and the Cascade Range and Sierra Nevada which all lie further to the west .   The Rocky Mountains were initially formed from 80 million to 55 million years ago during the Laramide orogeny , in which a number of plates began to slide underneath the North American plate . The angle of subduction was shallow , resulting in a broad belt of mountains running down western North America . Since then , further tectonic activity and erosion by glaciers have sculpted the Rockies into dramatic peaks and valleys . At the end of the last ice age , humans started to inhabit the mountain range . After Europeans , such as Sir Alexander Mackenzie , and Americans , such as the Lewis and Clark expedition , started to explore the range , minerals and furs drove the initial economic exploitation of the mountains , although the range itself never became densely populated .   Much of the mountain range is protected by public parks and forest lands , and is a popular tourist destination , especially for hiking , camping , mountaineering , fishing , hunting , mountain biking , skiing , and snowboarding .


Missouri Missouri ( see pronunciations ) is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States , achieving statehood in 1821 . With over six million residents , it is the eighteenth most populous state and host to the mean center of United States population . The largest urban areas are St. Louis , Kansas City , Springfield , and Columbia . The capitol is in Jefferson City on the Missouri River . The state is the twenty-first most extensive by area and is geographically diverse . The Northern Plains were once covered by glaciers , then tallgrass prairie , and now the deep soils yield great agricultural productivity . In the South are the Ozarks , a forested highland , providing timber , minerals , and recreation . The Mississippi River forms the eastern border of the state , eventually flowing into the swampy Missouri Bootheel .   Humans have inhabited the land now known as Missouri for at least 12,000 years . The Mississippian culture built cities and mounds , before declining in the 1300s . When European explorers arrived in the 1600s they encountered the Osage and Missouria nations . The French established Louisiana , a part of New France , and founded Ste. Genevieve in 1735 and St. Louis in 1764 . After a brief period of Spanish rule , the United States acquired the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 . Americans from the Upland South , including enslaved African Americans , rushed into the new Missouri Territory . Many from Virginia , Kentucky , and Tennessee settled in the Boonslick area of Mid-Missouri . Soon after , heavy German immigration formed the Missouri Rhineland .   Missouri played a central role in the westward expansion of the United States , as memorialized by the Gateway Arch . The Pony Express , Oregon Trail , Santa Fe Trail , and California Trail all began in Missouri . As a border state , Missouri 's role in the American Civil War was complex and there were many conflicts within . After the war , both Greater St. Louis and the Kansas City metropolitan area became centers of industrialization and business . Today , the state is divided into 114 counties and the independent city of St. Louis .   Missouri 's culture blends elements from the Midwestern and Southern United States . The musical styles of ragtime , Kansas City jazz , and St. Louis Blues , developed in Missouri . The well-known Kansas City-style barbecue , and lesser-known St. Louis-style barbecue can be found across the state and beyond . St. Louis is also a major center of beer brewing ; Anheuser-Busch is the largest producer in the world . Missouri wine is produced in the nearby Missouri Rhineland and Ozarks . Missouri 's alcohol laws are among the most permissive in the United States . Outside of the large cities popular tourist destinations include the Lake of the Ozarks and Branson . U.S. President Harry S. Truman is from Missouri .   Other well known Missourians include Mark Twain , Walt Disney , Chuck Berry and Nelly . Some of the largest companies based in the state include Cerner , Express Scripts , Monsanto , Emerson Electric , Edward Jones , H&R Block , Wells Fargo Advisors and O'Reilly Auto Parts . Missouri has been called the `` Mother of the West '' and the `` Cave State '' ; however , Missouri 's most famous nickname is the `` Show Me State '' , as Missourians are known for being skeptical .


Constantine is a film starring Djimon Hounsou.

Constantine (film) Constantine is a 2005 American-German occult detective action horror film directed by Francis Lawrence as his feature film directorial debut , starring Keanu Reeves as John Constantine , with Rachel Weisz , Shia LaBeouf , Tilda Swinton , Pruitt Taylor Vince , and Djimon Hounsou . With a screenplay by Kevin Brodbin and Frank Cappello , the film is based on DC Comics ' Hellblazer comic book , with plot elements taken from the `` Dangerous Habits '' story arc ( issues # 4146 ) and the `` Original Sins '' story arc .   The character of John Constantine was introduced by comic book writer/creator Alan Moore while writing the Swamp Thing , first appearing there in June 1985 . In 1988 , the character of John Constantine was given his own comic book title , Hellblazer , published by DC Comics . The `` Dangerous Habits '' story arc was written by Garth Ennis in 1991 .   The film portrays John Constantine as a cynic with the ability to perceive and communicate with half-angels and half-demons in their true form . He seeks salvation from eternal damnation in Hell for a suicide attempt in his youth . Constantine exorcises demons back to Hell to earn favor with Heaven but has become weary over time . With terminal lung cancer , he helps a troubled police detective learn the truth about her sister 's death while simultaneously unraveling a much larger and darker plot .   Constantine was released in the United States and Canada on February 18 , 2005 and in Hong Kong on February 8 , 2005 . The film received mixed reviews and was a box office success , grossing $ 230.9 million worldwide from a $ 100 million budget .


Mary-Louise Parker Mary-Louise Parker ( born August 2 , 1964 ) is an American actress and author . In addition to her many films , Parker enjoyed great popularity for her lead role on Showtime 's television series Weeds portraying Nancy Botwin , for which she received the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in 2006 . Parker has appeared in films and series including RED , RED 2 , Fried Green Tomatoes , Boys on the Side , The West Wing , and Angels in America , for which she received a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress . Parker is also the recipient of the 2001 Tony Award for Best Actress for her performance in the Broadway play Proof . She also starred in When We Rise .


Thor: The Dark World is a recorded work.

Thor: The Dark World Thor : The Dark World is a 2013 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Thor , produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures . It is the sequel to 2011 's Thor and the eighth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe . The film was directed by Alan Taylor , with a screenplay by Christopher Yost and Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely . It stars Chris Hemsworth , Natalie Portman , Tom Hiddleston , Anthony Hopkins , Stellan Skarsgård , Idris Elba , Christopher Eccleston , Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje , Kat Dennings , Ray Stevenson , Zachary Levi , Tadanobu Asano , Jaimie Alexander , and Rene Russo . In Thor : The Dark World , Thor teams up with Loki to save the Nine Realms from the Dark Elves led by the vengeful Malekith , who intends to plunge the universe into darkness .   Development of Thor : The Dark World began in April 2011 , when producer Kevin Feige announced plans for a sequel to follow the crossover film The Avengers . In July 2011 , Kenneth Branagh , the director of Thor , withdrew from the project . Brian Kirk and Patty Jenkins were considered to direct the film before Taylor was hired in January 2012 . The supporting cast filled out in August 2012 , with the hiring of Eccleston , Dennings , and Akinnuoye-Agbaje . Principal photography began in September 2012 in Surrey , England with filming continuing in Iceland and London , before wrapping up in December 2012 . Thor : The Dark World was converted to 3D in post-production .   Thor : The Dark World premiered at the Odeon Leicester Square in London on October 22 , 2013 . It was released internationally on October 30 , 2013 , and on November 8 , 2013 , in the United States . The film received mixed reviews , but was a commercial success , grossing over $ 644 million worldwide . A third film , Thor : Ragnarok , is set for release on November 3 , 2017 .


Hungarians have a number of subgroups including the Székelys people.

Hungarians Hungarians , also known as Magyars ( magyarok ) , are a nation and ethnic group who speak Hungarian and are primarily associated with Hungary . There are around 13.1 -- 14.7 million Hungarians , of whom 8.5 -- 9.8 million live in today 's Hungary ( as of 2011 ) . About 2.2 million Hungarians live in areas that were part of the Kingdom of Hungary before the 1918 -- 1920 dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and the Treaty of Trianon , and are now parts of Hungary 's seven neighbouring countries , especially Romania , Austria , Slovakia , Serbia and Ukraine . Significant groups of people with Hungarian ancestry live in various other parts of the world , most of them in the United States , Canada , Germany , France , the United Kingdom , Brazil , Australia , and Argentina . Hungarians can be classified into several subgroups according to local linguistic and cultural characteristics ; subgroups with distinct identities include the Székelys , the Csángós , the Palóc , and the Jász people .


Dangerously in Love Dangerously in Love is the debut studio album by American singer Beyoncé . It was released on June 24 , 2003 , by Columbia Records and Music World Entertainment . During the recording of Destiny 's Child 's third studio album Survivor ( 2001 ) , the group announced that they would produce solo albums to be released . Recording sessions for the album took place from March 2002 to March 2003 at several studios , during the hiatus of her then-group Destiny 's Child . As executive producer of the album , Beyoncé took a wider role in its production , co-writing a majority of the songs , choosing which ones to produce and sharing ideas on the mixing and mastering of tracks .   The tracks in the album are a mixture of uptempo songs and ballads , which are basically inspired by R&B and soul genres ; it also features elements of hip hop and Arabic music . Although Beyoncé remained discreet about her interpretation of the songs , its underlying meanings were attributed by music writers as an allusion to her intimate relationship with then-boyfriend and well-known music mogul Jay-Z . Dangerously in Love received positive reviews from music critics upon its release , with critics praising Knowles ' `` artistic leap '' . The album also received numerous accolades , earning Beyoncé five Grammy Awards .   Dangerously in Love reached a worldwide commercial success , earning multi-platinum certifications in Australia , the United Kingdom , and the United States . The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart , selling 317,000 copies in its first week , earning Beyoncé the highest debut sales among Destiny 's Child members ' solo albums . Dangerously in Love has sold over 11 million copies worldwide and has produced two number one Billboard singles and multiple top tens .


Jerry Goldsmith received nominations for Grammy Awards.

Jerry Goldsmith Jerrald King `` Jerry '' Goldsmith ( February 10 , 1929July 21 , 2004 ) was an American composer and conductor most known for his work in film and television scoring . He composed scores for such noteworthy films as Star Trek : The Motion Picture ( Which he personally considered his best work ) , The Sand Pebbles , Logan 's Run , Planet of the Apes , Patton , Papillon , Chinatown , The Wind and the Lion , The Omen , The Boys from Brazil , Capricorn One , Alien , Poltergeist , The Secret of NIMH , Gremlins , Hoosiers , Total Recall , Basic Instinct , Rudy , Air Force One , L.A. Confidential , Mulan , The Mummy , three Rambo films , Explorers and four other Star Trek films .   He collaborated with some of film history 's most accomplished directors , including Robert Wise , Howard Hawks , Otto Preminger , Joe Dante , Richard Donner , Roman Polanski , Ridley Scott , Michael Winner , Steven Spielberg , Paul Verhoeven , and Franklin J. Schaffner .   Goldsmith was nominated for six Grammy Awards , five Primetime Emmy Awards , nine Golden Globe Awards , four British Academy Film Awards , and eighteen Academy Awards ( he won only one , in 1976 , for The Omen ) .


Final Fantasy XII received very positive reviews.

Final Fantasy XII is a fantasy role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 2 home video console . Released in 2006 , it is the twelfth title in the mainline Final Fantasy series . The game introduced several innovations to the series : an open world split into zones , a seamless battle system , a controllable camera , a customizable `` gambit '' system which lets the player control the artificial intelligence ( AI ) of characters in battle ; and a `` license '' system that determines which abilities and equipment are used by characters . Final Fantasy XII also includes elements from previous games in the series , such as Chocobos and Moogles .   The game takes place in the fictional land of Ivalice , where the empires of Archadia and Rozarria are waging an endless war . Dalmasca , a small kingdom , is caught between the warring nations . When Dalmasca is annexed by Archadia , its princess , Ashe , creates a resistance movement . During the struggle , she meets Vaan , a young adventurer who dreams of becoming a sky pirate in command of an airship . They are quickly joined by a band of allies ; together , they rally against the tyranny of the Archadian Empire .   Final Fantasy XII received critical acclaim , earning numerous `` Game of the Year '' awards in various categories from noted video game publications . Selling more than two million copies in Japan , it became the fourth best-selling PlayStation 2 game of 2006 worldwide . By November 2009 , over 6 million copies of the game were sold worldwide . A sequel , Final Fantasy XII : Revenant Wings , was released for the Nintendo DS in 2007 . A high-definition remaster of the International Zodiac Job System version , subtitled The Zodiac Age , will be released worldwide for the PlayStation 4 in July 2017 .


Istanbul is located on the historic Silk Road.

Istanbul Istanbul ( -LSB- ˌɪstænˈbʊl -RSB- , -LSB- - ˈbuːl -RSB- or -LSB- - stɑːn - -RSB- İstanbul -LSB- isˈtɑnbuɫ -RSB- ) , historically known as Constantinople and Byzantium , is the most populous city in Turkey and the country 's economic , cultural , and historic center . Istanbul is a transcontinental city in Eurasia , straddling the Bosphorus strait ( which separates Europe and Asia ) between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea . Its commercial and historical center lies on the European side and about a third of its population lives on the Asian side .  The city is the administrative center of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality ( conterminous with Istanbul Province ) , both hosting a population of around 14.7 million residents . Istanbul is one of the world 's most populous cities and ranks as the world 's 7th-largest city proper and the largest European city .   Founded under the name of Byzantion on the Sarayburnu promontory around 660 BCE , the city developed to become one of the most significant in history . After its reestablishment as Constantinople in 330 CE , it served as an imperial capital for almost 16 centuries , during the Roman and Byzantine ( 330 -- 1204 and 1261 -- 1453 ) , the Latin ( 1204 -- 1261 ) , and the Ottoman ( 1453 -- 1922 ) empires . It was instrumental in the advancement of Christianity during Roman and Byzantine times , before the Ottomans conquered the city in 1453 and transformed it into an Islamic stronghold and the seat of the Ottoman Caliphate .   Istanbul 's strategic position on the historic Silk Road , rail networks to Europe and the Middle East , and the only sea route between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean have produced a cosmopolitan populace , although less so since the establishment of the Turkish Republic in 1923 . Overlooked for the new capital Ankara during the interwar period , the city has since regained much of its prominence . The population of the city has increased tenfold since the 1950s , as migrants from across Anatolia have moved in and city limits have expanded to accommodate them . Arts , music , film , and cultural festivals were established at the end of the 20th century and continue to be hosted by the city today . Infrastructure improvements have produced a complex transportation network .   Approximately foreign visitors arrived in Istanbul in 2015 , five years after it was named a European Capital of Culture , making the city the world 's fifth most popular tourist destination . The city 's biggest attraction is its historic center , partially listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site , and its cultural and entertainment hub can be found across the city 's natural harbor , the Golden Horn , in the Beyoğlu district . Considered a global city , Istanbul has one of the fastest-growing metropolitan economies in the world . It hosts the headquarters of many Turkish companies and media outlets and accounts for more than a quarter of the country 's gross domestic product . Hoping to capitalize on its revitalization and rapid expansion , Istanbul has bid for the Summer Olympics five times in twenty years .


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 .


The Man Who Fell to Earth The Man Who Fell to Earth is a 1976 British science fiction drama film directed by Nicolas Roeg and written by Paul Mayersberg , based on Walter Tevis ' 1963 novel of the same name , about an extraterrestrial who crash lands on Earth seeking a way to ship water to his planet , which is suffering from a severe drought . The film maintains a strong cult following for its use of surreal imagery and its performances by David Bowie ( in his first starring film role ) , Candy Clark , and Hollywood veteran Rip Torn . The same novel was later remade as a less successful 1987 television adaptation .   The film was produced by Michael Deeley and Barry Spikings , who reunited two years later to work on The Deer Hunter .


David Bowie David Robert Jones ( 8 January 1947 -- 10 January 2016 ) , known professionally as David Bowie ( -LSB- ˈboʊi -RSB- ) , was an English singer , songwriter and actor . He was a figure in popular music for over five decades , becoming acclaimed by critics and other musicians for his innovative work . His career was marked by reinvention and visual presentation , his music and stagecraft significantly influencing popular music . During his lifetime , his record sales , estimated at 140 million worldwide , made him one of the world 's best-selling music artists . In the UK , he was awarded nine platinum album certifications , eleven gold and eight silver , releasing eleven number-one albums . In the US , he received five platinum and seven gold certifications . He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 .   Born in Brixton , South London , Bowie developed an interest in music as a child , eventually studying art , music and design before embarking on a professional career as a musician in 1963 . `` Space Oddity '' became his first top-five entry on the UK Singles Chart after its release in July 1969 . After a period of experimentation , he re-emerged in 1972 during the glam rock era with his flamboyant and androgynous alter ego Ziggy Stardust . The character was spearheaded by the success of his single `` Starman '' and album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars , which won him widespread popularity . In 1975 , Bowie 's style shifted radically towards a sound he characterised as `` plastic soul '' , initially alienating many of his UK devotees but garnering him his first major US crossover success with the number-one single `` Fame '' and the album Young Americans . In 1976 , Bowie starred in the cult film The Man Who Fell to Earth and released Station to Station . The following year , he further confounded musical expectations with the electronic-inflected album Low ( 1977 ) , the first of three collaborations with Brian Eno that would come to be known as the `` Berlin Trilogy '' . `` Heroes '' ( 1977 ) and Lodger ( 1979 ) followed ; each album reached the UK top five and received lasting critical praise .   After uneven commercial success in the late 1970s , Bowie had UK number ones with the 1980 single `` Ashes to Ashes '' , its parent album Scary Monsters and Super Creeps , and `` Under Pressure '' , a 1981 collaboration with Queen . He then reached his commercial peak in 1983 with Let 's Dance , with its title track topping both UK and US charts . Throughout the 1990s and 2000s , Bowie continued to experiment with musical styles , including industrial and jungle . He also continued acting ; his roles included Major Celliers in Merry Christmas , Mr. Lawrence ( 1983 ) , the Goblin King Jareth in Labyrinth ( 1986 ) , Pontius Pilate in The Last Temptation of Christ ( 1988 ) , and Nikola Tesla in The Prestige ( 2006 ) , among other film and television appearances and cameos . He stopped concert touring after 2004 , and his last live performance was at a charity event in 2006 . In 2013 , Bowie returned from a decade-long recording hiatus with the release of The Next Day . He remained musically active until he died of liver cancer two days after the release of his final album , Blackstar ( 2016 ) .


Jared Leto Jared Joseph Leto ( -LSB- ˈlɛtoʊ -RSB- born December 26 , 1971 ) is an American actor , singer-songwriter , and director . After starting his career with television appearances in the early 1990s , Leto achieved recognition for his role as Jordan Catalano on the television series My So-Called Life ( 1994 ) . He made his film debut in How to Make an American Quilt ( 1995 ) and received critical praise for his performance in Prefontaine ( 1997 ) . Leto played supporting roles in The Thin Red Line ( 1998 ) , Fight Club ( 1999 ) and American Psycho ( 2000 ) , as well as the lead role in Urban Legend ( 1998 ) , and earned critical acclaim after portraying heroin addict Harry Goldfarb in Requiem for a Dream ( 2000 ) . He later began focusing increasingly on his music career , returning to acting with Panic Room ( 2002 ) , Alexander ( 2004 ) , Lord of War ( 2005 ) , Lonely Hearts ( 2006 ) , Chapter 27 ( 2007 ) , and Mr. Nobody ( 2009 ) . In 2012 , he directed the documentary film Artifact . In 2016 , he played the DC Comics supervillain Joker in the DC Extended Universe film Suicide Squad .   Leto 's performance as a transgender woman in Dallas Buyers Club ( 2013 ) earned him an Academy Award , a Golden Globe Award , and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actor . Leto is considered to be a method actor , known for his constant devotion to and research of his roles . He often remains completely in character for the duration of the shooting schedules of his films , even to the point of adversely affecting his health . He is also known to be selective about his film roles .   Leto is the lead vocalist , multi-instrumentalist and main songwriter for Thirty Seconds to Mars , a band he formed in 1998 in Los Angeles , California , with his older brother Shannon Leto . Their debut album , 30 Seconds to Mars ( 2002 ) , was released to positive reviews but only to limited success . The band achieved worldwide fame with the release of their second album A Beautiful Lie ( 2005 ) . Their following releases , This Is War ( 2009 ) and Love , Lust , Faith and Dreams ( 2013 ) , received further critical and commercial success . As of September 2014 , the band has sold over 15 million albums worldwide . Leto has also directed music videos , including the MTV Video Music Award -- winning `` The Kill '' ( 2006 ) , `` Kings and Queens '' ( 2009 ) , and `` Up in the Air '' ( 2013 ) .


The Great Gatsby looks at themes of idealism.

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


Lymph nodes are major B lymphocytes sites.

Lymph node A lymph node or lymph gland , is an ovoid or kidney-shaped organ of the lymphatic system , and of the adaptive immune system , that is widely present throughout the body . They are linked by the lymphatic vessels as a part of the circulatory system . Lymph nodes are major sites of B and T lymphocytes , and other white blood cells . Lymph nodes are important for the proper functioning of the immune system , acting as filters for foreign particles and cancer cells . Lymph nodes do not have a detoxification function , which is primarily dealt with by the liver and kidneys .   In the lymphatic system the lymph node is a secondary lymphoid organ . A lymph node is enclosed in a fibrous capsule and is made up of an outer cortex and an inner medulla .   Lymph nodes also have clinical significance . They become inflamed or enlarged in various diseases which may range from trivial throat infections , to life-threatening cancers . The condition of the lymph nodes is very important in cancer staging , which decides the treatment to be used , and determines the prognosis . When swollen , inflamed or enlarged , lymph nodes can be hard , firm or tender .


Logan Lerman failed to get cast in The Three Musketeers (2011).

Logan Lerman Logan Wade Lerman ( born January 19 , 1992 ) is an American actor , known for playing the title role in the fantasy-adventure Percy Jackson films . He appeared in commercials in the mid-1990s , before starring in the series Jack & Bobby ( 2004 -- 2005 ) and the movies The Butterfly Effect ( 2004 ) and Hoot ( 2006 ) . Lerman gained further recognition for his roles in the western 3:10 to Yuma , the thriller The Number 23 , the comedy Meet Bill , and 2009 's Gamer and My One and Only . He subsequently played d'Artagnan in 2011 's The Three Musketeers , starred in the coming-of-age dramas The Perks of Being a Wallflower ( 2012 ) , Indignation ( 2016 ) and Sidney Hall ( 2017 ) , and had major roles in the 2014 films Noah and Fury .


Marcus Rashford is a professional footballer.

Marcus Rashford Marcus Rashford ( born 31 October 1997 ) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team .   A Manchester United player from the age of seven , he scored twice in both his first-team debut ( Europa League ) after the warm-up injury of striker Anthony Martial and in his first Premier League game in February 2016 ( against Arsenal ) . He also scored in his first Manchester derby game , and his first League Cup game .   Rashford scored on his England debut in May 2016 , becoming the youngest English player to score in his first senior international game . He was chosen for UEFA Euro 2016 .


The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a film series.

Marvel Cinematic Universe The Marvel Cinematic Universe ( MCU ) is an American media franchise and shared universe that is centered on a series of superhero films , independently produced by Marvel Studios and based on characters that appear in publications by Marvel Comics . The franchise has expanded to include comic books , short films , television series and digital series . The shared universe , much like the original Marvel Universe in comic books , was established by crossing over common plot elements , settings , cast , and characters . Phil Coulson , portrayed by Clark Gregg , is an original character to the MCU and the only character to appear across all the different media of the MCU .   The first film released in the MCU was Iron Man ( 2008 ) , which began the first phase of films culminating in the crossover film Marvel 's The Avengers ( 2012 ) . Phase Two began with Iron Man 3 ( 2013 ) , and concluded with Ant-Man ( 2015 ) . The films are currently in Phase Three , which began with the release of Captain America : Civil War ( 2016 ) . Marvel Television expanded the universe further , first to network television with Marvel 's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on ABC in the 2013 -- 14 television season , followed by online streaming with Marvel 's Daredevil on Netflix in 2015 , and then to cable television with Marvel 's Cloak & Dagger , which is scheduled to air in 2018 on Freeform . Marvel Television has also produced the digital series Marvel 's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. : Slingshot , which is a supplement to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Soundtrack albums have been released for all of the films , along with many of television series , as well as the release of compilation albums containing existing music heard in the films . The MCU also includes tie-in comics published by Marvel Comics , while Marvel Studios has also produced a series of direct-to-video short films and a viral marketing campaign for its films and the universe with the faux news program WHIH Newsfront .   The franchise has been commercially successful as a multimedia shared universe , though some critics have found that some of its films and television series have suffered in service of the wider universe . It has inspired other film and television studios with comic book character adaptation rights to attempt to create similar shared universes . The MCU has also been the focus of other media , outside of the shared universe , including attractions at the Disneyland Resort and Discovery Times Square , two television specials , guidebooks for each film , a Lego video game , and a commercial with Coca-Cola .


Abraham Lincoln approved of the expansion of slavery.

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln ( -LSB- ˈeɪbrəhæm_ˈlIŋkən -RSB- February 12 , 1809 -- April 15 , 1865 ) was an American politician and lawyer who served as the 16th President of the United States from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865 . Lincoln led the United States through its Civil War -- its bloodiest war and perhaps its greatest moral , constitutional , and political crisis . In doing so , he preserved the Union , paved the way to the abolition of slavery , strengthened the federal government , and modernized the economy .   Born in Hodgenville , Kentucky , Lincoln grew up on the western frontier in Kentucky and Indiana . Largely self-educated , he became a lawyer in Illinois , a Whig Party leader , and was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives , in which he served for eight years . Elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1846 , Lincoln promoted rapid modernization of the economy through banks , tariffs , and railroads . Because he had originally agreed not to run for a second term in Congress , and because his opposition to the Mexican -- American War was unpopular among Illinois voters , Lincoln returned to Springfield and resumed his successful law practice . Reentering politics in 1854 , he became a leader in building the new Republican Party , which had a statewide majority in Illinois . In 1858 , while taking part in a series of highly publicized debates with his opponent and rival , Democrat Stephen A. Douglas , Lincoln spoke out against the expansion of slavery , but lost the U.S. Senate race to Douglas .   In 1860 , Lincoln secured the Republican Party presidential nomination as a moderate from a swing state . Though he gained very little support in the slaveholding states of the South , he swept the North and was elected president in 1860 . Lincoln 's victory prompted seven southern slave states to form the Confederate States of America before he moved into the White House -- no compromise or reconciliation was found regarding slavery and secession . Subsequently , on April 12 , 1861 , a Confederate attack on Fort Sumter inspired the North to enthusiastically rally behind the Union . As the leader of the moderate faction of the Republican Party , Lincoln confronted Radical Republicans , who demanded harsher treatment of the South , War Democrats , who called for more compromise , anti-war Democrats ( called Copperheads ) , who despised him , and irreconcilable secessionists , who plotted his assassination . Politically , Lincoln fought back by pitting his opponents against each other , by carefully planned political patronage , and by appealing to the American people with his powers of oratory . His Gettysburg Address became an iconic endorsement of the principles of nationalism , republicanism , equal rights , liberty , and democracy .   Lincoln initially concentrated on the military and political dimensions of the war . His primary goal was to reunite the nation . He suspended habeas corpus , leading to the controversial ex parte Merryman decision , and he averted potential British intervention in the war by defusing the Trent Affair in late 1861 . Lincoln closely supervised the war effort , especially the selection of top generals , including his most successful general , Ulysses S. Grant . He also made major decisions on Union war strategy , including a naval blockade that shut down the South 's normal trade , moves to take control of Kentucky and Tennessee , and using gunboats to gain control of the southern river system . Lincoln tried repeatedly to capture the Confederate capital at Richmond ; each time a general failed , Lincoln substituted another , until finally Grant succeeded . As the war progressed , his complex moves toward ending slavery included the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 ; Lincoln used the U.S. Army to protect escaped slaves , encouraged the border states to outlaw slavery , and pushed through Congress the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution , which permanently outlawed slavery .   An exceptionally astute politician deeply involved with power issues in each state , Lincoln reached out to the War Democrats and managed his own re-election campaign in the 1864 presidential election . Anticipating the war 's conclusion , Lincoln pushed a moderate view of Reconstruction , seeking to reunite the nation speedily through a policy of generous reconciliation in the face of lingering and bitter divisiveness . On April 14 , 1865 , five days after the surrender of Confederate commanding general Robert E. Lee , Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth , a Confederate sympathizer .   Lincoln has been consistently ranked both by scholars and the public as among the greatest U.S. presidents .


Natural disasters have affected Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Bangladesh ( -LSB- bæŋɡləˈdɛʃ -RSB- -LSB- ˌbɑːŋɡləˈdɛʃ -RSB- -LSB- : bn : বাংলাদেশ , বাংলাদেশ -RSB- , -LSB- ˈbaŋlad̪eʃ -RSB- , lit . `` The country of Bengal '' ) , officially the People 's Republic of Bangladesh , is a country in South Asia . It shares land borders with India and Myanmar ( Burma ) . Nepal , Bhutan and China are located near Bangladesh but do not share a border with it . The country 's maritime territory in the Bay of Bengal is roughly equal to the size of its land area . Bangladesh is the world 's eighth most populous country . Dhaka is its capital and largest city , followed by Chittagong , which has the country 's largest port .   Bangladesh forms the largest and eastern part of the Bengal region . Bangladeshis include people of different ethnic groups and religions . Bengalis , who speak the official Bengali language , make up 98 % of the population . The politically dominant Bengali Muslims make the nation the world 's third largest Muslim-majority country . Most of Bangladesh is covered by the Bengal delta , the largest delta on Earth . The country has 700 rivers and 8,046 km ( 5,000 miles ) of inland waterways . Highlands with evergreen forests are found in the northeastern and southeastern regions of the country . Bangladesh has many islands and a coral reef . It is home to the Sundarbans , the largest mangrove forest in the world . The country 's biodiversity includes a vast array of plant and wildlife , including critically endangered Bengal tigers , the national animal .   The Greeks and Romans identified the region as Gangaridai , a powerful kingdom of the historical subcontinent , in the 3rd century BCE . Archaeological research has unearthed several ancient cities in Bangladesh , which had international trade links for millennia . The Bengal Sultanate and Mughal Bengal transformed the region into a cosmopolitan Islamic imperial power between the 14th and 18th centuries . The region was home to many principalities that had inland naval prowess . It was also a notable center of the worldwide muslin and silk trade . As part of British India , the region was influenced by the Bengali renaissance and played an important role in anti-colonial movements . The Partition of British India made East Bengal a part of the Dominion of Pakistan ; and was renamed as East Pakistan . The region witnessed the Bengali Language Movement in 1952 and the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971 . After independence , a parliamentary republic was established . A presidential government was in place between 1975 and 1990 , followed by a return to parliamentary democracy . The country has also been affected by poverty , natural disasters , hunger , dominant party systems and military coups .   Bangladesh is a middle power and a major developing nation . Within South Asia , the country ranks first in gender equality , second in foreign exchange earnings and third in life expectancy and peacefulness . Listed as one of the Next Eleven , its economy ranks 46th in terms of nominal gross domestic product ( GDP ) and 29th in terms of purchasing power parity ( PPP ) . It is one of the largest textile exporters in the world . Its major trading partners are the European Union , the United States , China , India , Japan , Malaysia and Singapore . With its strategically vital location between Southern , Eastern and Southeast Asia , Bangladesh is an important promoter of regional connectivity and cooperation . It is a founding member of SAARC , BIMSTEC , the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Forum for Regional Cooperation and the Bangladesh Bhutan India Nepal Initiative . It is also a member of the Commonwealth of Nations , the Developing 8 Countries , the OIC , the Non Aligned Movement , the Group of 77 and the World Trade Organization . Bangladesh is one of the largest contributors to United Nations peacekeeping forces .


Super Bowl XLVI was the first Super Bowl victory for Drew Brees.

Super Bowl XLVI Super Bowl XLVI was an American football game between the National Football Conference ( NFC ) champion New York Giants and the American Football Conference ( AFC ) champion New England Patriots to decide the National Football League ( NFL ) champion for the 2011 season . The Giants defeated the Patriots by the score of 21 -- 17 . The game was played on February 5 , 2012 , at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis , the first time that the Super Bowl was played in the state of Indiana .   In addition to winning their fourth Super Bowl in team history , the Giants set a new record for the lowest regular season record ( 9 -- 7 , win percentage of 56.3 % ) by a Super Bowl champion . The Patriots entered the game with a 13 -- 3 regular season record , and were also seeking their fourth Super Bowl win . The game was also a rematch of Super Bowl XLII , in which New York also won , 17 -- 14 , to spoil New England 's run at a perfect 2007 season in what is now considered to be one of the greatest upsets in sports history . Super Bowl XLVI also marked the third consecutive matchup between teams from divisions with the same cardinal directions , with the Giants/Patriots from the NFC/AFC East , Super Bowl XLV between the Green Bay Packers/Pittsburgh Steelers from the NFC/AFC North , and Super Bowl XLIV between the New Orleans Saints/Indianapolis Colts from the NFC/AFC South . Two years later , the Seattle Seahawks/Denver Broncos , from the NFC/AFC West , would continue this trend when they met each other for Super Bowl XLVIII .   The Giants jumped to a 9 -- 0 lead in the first quarter of Super Bowl XLVI before the Patriots scored 17 unanswered points to take a 17 -- 9 lead in the third quarter . But the Giants prevented the Patriots from scoring again , and two consecutive New York field goals chipped away New England 's lead , 17 -- 15 , late in the third quarter . The Giants capped off an 88-yard drive with running back Ahmad Bradshaw 's 6-yard game-winning touchdown with 57 seconds left in the game . Eli Manning , who completed 30 of 40 passes for 296 yards , one touchdown , and no interceptions , was named Super Bowl MVP for the second time in his career . He became the third consecutive quarterback to win the award after Aaron Rodgers in Super Bowl XLV and Drew Brees in Super Bowl XLIV .   The broadcast of the game on NBC broke the then record for the most-watched program in American television history , previously set during the previous year 's Super Bowl . Super Bowl XLVI was watched by an estimated average audience of 111.3 million US viewers and an estimated total audience of 166.8 million , according to Nielsen , meaning that over half of the American population watched at least some of the initial broadcast . The game also set the record for most tweets per second during a sporting event , with 13.7 million tweets from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. ( PST ) .


Marilyn Monroe appeared in a film directed by Billy Wilder.

The Seven Year Itch The Seven Year Itch is a 1955 American romantic comedy film based on a three-act play with the same name by George Axelrod . The film was co-written and directed by Billy Wilder , and stars Marilyn Monroe and Tom Ewell , reprising his Broadway role from the play . It contains one of the most iconic images of the 20th century -- Monroe standing on a subway grate as her white dress is blown upwards by a passing train . The titular phrase , which refers to declining interest in a monogamous relationship after seven years of marriage , has been used by psychologists .


Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe ( born Norma Jeane Mortenson ; June 1 , 1926 -- August 5 , 1962 ) was an American actress and model . Famous for playing comic `` dumb blonde '' characters , she became one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s , emblematic of the era 's attitudes towards sexuality . Although she was a top-billed actress for only a decade , her films grossed $ 200 million by the time of her unexpected death in 1962 . She continues to be considered a major popular culture icon .   Born and raised in Los Angeles , Monroe spent most of her childhood in foster homes and an orphanage and married at the age of sixteen . While working in a factory in 1944 as part of the war effort , she was introduced to a photographer from the First Motion Picture Unit and began a successful pin-up modeling career . The work led to short-lived film contracts with Twentieth Century-Fox ( 1946 -- 1947 ) and Columbia Pictures ( 1948 ) . After a series of minor film roles , she signed a new contract with Fox in 1951 . Over the next two years , she became a popular actress with roles in several comedies , including As Young as You Feel and Monkey Business , and in the dramas Clash by Night and Do n't Bother to Knock . Monroe faced a scandal when it was revealed that she had posed for nude photos before becoming a star , but rather than damaging her career , the story resulted in increased interest in her films .   By 1953 , Monroe was one of the most marketable Hollywood stars , with leading roles in three films : the noir Niagara , which focused on her sex appeal , and the comedies Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and How to Marry a Millionaire , which established her star image as a `` dumb blonde '' . Although she played a significant role in the creation and management of her public image throughout her career , she was disappointed at being typecast and underpaid by the studio . She was briefly suspended in early 1954 for refusing a film project , but returned to star in one of the biggest box office successes of her career , The Seven Year Itch ( 1955 ) .   When the studio was still reluctant to change her contract , Monroe founded a film production company in late 1954 ; she named it Marilyn Monroe Productions ( MMP ) . She dedicated 1955 to building her company and began studying method acting at the Actors Studio . In late 1955 , Fox awarded her a new contract , which gave her more control and a larger salary . After a critically acclaimed performance in Bus Stop ( 1956 ) and acting in the first independent production of MMP , The Prince and the Showgirl ( 1957 ) , she won a Golden Globe for Best Actress for Some Like It Hot ( 1959 ) . Her last completed film was the drama The Misfits ( 1961 ) .   Monroe 's troubled private life received much attention . She struggled with substance abuse , depression , and anxiety . She had two highly publicized marriages , to retired baseball star Joe DiMaggio and playwright Arthur Miller , both of which ended in divorce . On August 5 , 1962 , she died at age 36 from an overdose of barbiturates at her home in Los Angeles . Although Monroe 's death was ruled a probable suicide , several conspiracy theories have been proposed in the decades following her death .


Marlon Brando was number four on a list in 1958.

Marlon Brando Marlon Brando , Jr. ( April 3 , 1924 -- July 1 , 2004 ) was an American actor , film director and political activist . He is credited with bringing realism to film acting . He helped to popularize the Stanislavski system of acting , studying with Stella Adler in the 1940s . Brando is widely known for his Academy Award-winning performances as Terry Malloy in On the Waterfront ( 1954 ) and Vito Corleone in The Godfather ( 1972 ) , as well as his performances in A Streetcar Named Desire ( 1951 ) , Viva Zapata ! ( 1952 ) , Julius Caesar ( 1953 ) , The Wild One ( 1953 ) , Guys and Dolls ( 1955 ) , Sayonara ( 1957 ) , Reflections in a Golden Eye ( 1967 ) , Last Tango in Paris ( 1972 ) , and Apocalypse Now ( 1979 ) . Brando was also an activist for many causes , notably the Civil Rights Movement and various Native American movements .   He initially gained acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for reprising the role of Stanley Kowalski in the 1951 film adaptation of Tennessee Williams ' play A Streetcar Named Desire , a role that he had originated successfully on Broadway . He received further praise for his performance as Terry Malloy in On the Waterfront , and his portrayal of the rebel motorcycle gang leader Johnny Strabler in The Wild One proved to be a lasting image in popular culture . Brando received Academy Award nominations for playing Emiliano Zapata in Viva Zapata ! ; Mark Antony in Joseph L. Mankiewicz 's 1953 film adaptation of Shakespeare 's Julius Caesar ; and Air Force Major Lloyd Gruver in Sayonara ( 1957 ) , an adaption of James Michener 's 1954 novel . Brando was included in a list of Top Ten Money Making Stars three times in the 1950s , coming in at number 10 in 1954 , number 6 in 1955 , and number 4 in 1958 .   The 1960s proved to be a fallow decade for Brando . He directed and starred in the cult western film One-Eyed Jacks , a critical and commercial flop , after which he delivered a series of box-office failures , beginning with the 1962 film adaptation of the novel Mutiny on the Bounty . After 10 years , during which he did not appear in a successful film , he won his second Academy Award for playing Vito Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola 's The Godfather , a role critics consider among his greatest . The Godfather was then one of the most commercially successful films of all time . With that and his Oscar-nominated performance in Last Tango in Paris , Brando re-established himself in the ranks of top box-office stars , placing sixth and tenth in the Money Making Stars poll in 1972 and 1973 , respectively . Brando took a four-year hiatus before appearing in The Missouri Breaks ( 1976 ) . After this , he was content with being a highly paid character actor in cameo roles , such as in Superman ( 1978 ) and The Formula ( 1980 ) , before taking a nine-year break from motion pictures . According to the Guinness Book of World Records , Brando was paid a record $ 3.7 million ( $ million in inflation-adjusted dollars ) and 11.75 % of the gross profits for 13 days ' work on Superman . He finished out the 1970s with his controversial performance as Colonel Kurtz in another Coppola film , Apocalypse Now , a box-office hit for which he was highly paid and which helped finance his career layoff during the 1980s .   Brando was ranked by the American Film Institute as the fourth-greatest movie star among male movie stars whose screen debuts occurred in or before 1950 . He was one of only three professional actors , along with Charlie Chaplin and Marilyn Monroe , named in 1999 by Time magazine as one of its 100 Most Important People of the Century . He died of respiratory failure on July 1 , 2004 , at age 80 .


Chelsea F.C. is a football club in London.

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


John McCain campaigned in the 58th quadrennial presidential election.

United States presidential election, 2008 The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election . It was held on Tuesday , November 4 , 2008 . Democratic Party nominees Barack Obama , a U.S. Senator from Illinois , and his running mate Joe Biden , a long-time U.S. Senator from Delaware , defeated Republican Party nominees John McCain , a long-time and current U.S. Senator from Arizona , and his running mate Sarah Palin , a Governor of Alaska . Obama became the first African American ever to be elected president of the United States , and Joe Biden became the first Roman Catholic ever elected vice president .   The incumbent president , George W. Bush , of the Republican Party , was ineligible to be elected to a third term due to term limits in the Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution . McCain secured the Republican nomination by March 2008 , but the Democratic nomination was marked by a sharp contest between Obama and initial front-runner Senator Hillary Clinton , with Obama not securing the nomination until early June . Early campaigning had focused heavily on the Iraq War and the unpopularity of outgoing Republican President George W. Bush , but all candidates focused on domestic concerns as well , which grew more prominent as the economy experienced the onset of the Great Recession and a major financial crisis that peaked in September 2008 .   Obama would go on to win a decisive victory over McCain , winning both the popular vote and the electoral college , with 365 electoral votes to McCain 's 173 ; he received the largest percentage of the popular vote for a Democrat since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964 . Obama 's total vote amount of 69.5 million votes is the highest number ever won by a presidential candidate . Obama 's successes in obtaining a major party 's nomination and winning the general election were both firsts for the African American community . Although Hillary Clinton did not win the Democratic nomination , she was the first woman to win a major American party 's presidential primary for the purposes of delegate selection when she won the primary in New Hampshire on January 8 . She later went on to win the Democratic nomination but lose the general election to Donald Trump in 2016 . She also was the first woman to be an American presidential candidate in every primary and caucus in every state . Similarly , Sarah Palin became the first woman to appear on a Republican presidential ticket , and the second woman overall to appear on a major party 's presidential ticket ( after Geraldine Ferraro in 1984 ) .   This was also the first election in which neither candidate was born in the contiguous United States . Obama was born in Hawaii and McCain was born at Coco Solo Naval Air Station in the Panama Canal Zone . This election also made McCain currently the only Senator who previously served as a presidential nominee and still remains incumbent , after John Kerry 's resignation from the U.S. Senate in 2013 .   As of 2017 , this is the last time Nebraska ( 2nd congressional district only ) , Indiana , and North Carolina voted for the Democratic candidate . This election also became the first time that Missouri backed the losing candidate since 1956 , with both Kentucky & Tennessee failing to do the same since 1960 . Likewise , this would also be the first time both Arkansas & Louisiana did not vote for the winning candidate since 1968 , while being among the most recent states which voted third party that same year as well .


John McCain John Sidney McCain III ( born August 29 , 1936 ) is an American politician who currently serves as the senior United States Senator from Arizona . He was the Republican nominee for the 2008 U.S. presidential election .   McCain followed his father and grandfather , both four-star admirals , into the United States Navy , graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1958 . He became a naval aviator , flying ground-attack aircraft from aircraft carriers . During the Vietnam War , he was almost killed in the 1967 USS Forrestal fire . In October 1967 , while on a bombing mission over Hanoi , he was shot down , seriously injured , and captured by the North Vietnamese . He was a prisoner of war until 1973 . McCain experienced episodes of torture , and refused an out-of-sequence early repatriation offer . His war wounds have left him with lifelong physical limitations .   He retired from the Navy as a captain in 1981 and moved to Arizona , where he entered politics . Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1982 , McCain served two terms . He was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986 , winning re-election easily five times , most recently in 2016 . While generally adhering to conservative principles , McCain at times has had a media reputation as a `` maverick '' for his willingness to disagree with his party on certain issues . After being investigated and largely exonerated in a political influence scandal of the 1980s as a member of the Keating Five , he made campaign finance reform one of his signature concerns , eventually gaining passage of the McCain -- Feingold Act in 2002 . He is also known for his work in the 1990s to restore diplomatic relations with Vietnam , and for his belief that the Iraq War should have been fought to a successful conclusion . McCain has chaired the Senate Commerce Committee , opposed spending that he considered to be pork barrel , and played a key role in alleviating a crisis over judicial nominations with the bi-partisan group known as the Gang of 14 .   McCain ran for the Republican nomination in 2000 but lost a heated primary season contest to George W. Bush of Texas . He secured the nomination in 2008 after coming back from early reversals , but was defeated by Democratic candidate Barack Obama in the general election , losing by a 365 -- 173 electoral college margin and by 53 -- 46 % in the popular vote . He subsequently adopted more orthodox conservative stances and attitudes and largely opposed actions of the Obama administration , especially in regard to foreign policy matters . By 2013 , however , he had become a key figure in the Senate for negotiating deals on certain issues in an otherwise partisan environment . In 2015 , McCain became chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee .


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


Ask Any Girl (film) Ask Any Girl is a 1959 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer romantic comedy film starring David Niven , Shirley MacLaine and Gig Young .


Some Came Running (film) Some Came Running is a 1958 American crime film directed by Vincente Minnelli and starring Frank Sinatra , Dean Martin , and Shirley MacLaine , based on the novel of the same name by James Jones . It tells the story of a troubled Army veteran and author who returns to his Midwestern hometown after 16 years , to the chagrin of his wealthy , social-climbing brother .   Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer , in a bid to duplicate the success of the multi -- Academy Award winning film adaptation of Jones ' earlier novel , From Here to Eternity ( 1953 ) , optioned the 1,200-plus-page book Some Came Running and cast Sinatra as the lead . Sinatra approved Dean Martin for the role of Bama , in what would be their first film together . MacLaine garnered her first Academy Award nomination , which she credited to Sinatra for his insistence on changing the film 's ending . The film was released in CinemaScope and Metrocolor .


The Turning Point (1977 film) The Turning Point is a 1977 American drama film centered on the world of ballet in New York City , written by Arthur Laurents and directed by Herbert Ross . The film stars Shirley MacLaine and Anne Bancroft , along with Leslie Browne , Mikhail Baryshnikov , and Tom Skerritt . The film was nominated for eleven Academy Awards , including Best Picture . The script is a fictionalized version of the real-life Brown family and the friendship between ballerinas Isabel Mirrow Brown and Nora Kaye .


Terms of Endearment Terms of Endearment is a 1983 American comedy-drama film adapted from Larry McMurtry 's eponymous 1975 novel , directed , written , and produced by James L. Brooks and starring Shirley MacLaine , Debra Winger , Jack Nicholson , Danny DeVito , Jeff Daniels , and John Lithgow . The film covers 30 years of the relationship between Aurora Greenway ( MacLaine ) and her daughter Emma ( Winger ) .   The film received eleven Academy Award nominations and won five . Brooks won the Academy Awards for Best Picture , Best Director , and Best Writing ( Adapted Screenplay ) while MacLaine won the Academy Award for Best Actress and Nicholson won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor . In addition , it won four Golden Globes : Best Motion Picture -- Drama , Best Actress in a Drama ( MacLaine ) , Best Supporting Actor ( Nicholson ) , and Best Screenplay ( Brooks ) .


Shirley MacLaine Shirley MacLaine ( born Shirley MacLean Beaty ; April 24 , 1934 ) is an American film , television and theater actress , singer , dancer , activist and author . An Academy Award winner , MacLaine received the 40th AFI Life Achievement Award from the American Film Institute in 2012 , and received the Kennedy Center Honors for her lifetime contributions to American culture through the performing arts in 2013 . She is known for her New Age beliefs , and has an interest in spirituality and reincarnation . She has written a series of autobiographical works that describe these beliefs , document her world travels , and describe her Hollywood career .   A six-time Academy Award nominee , MacLaine received a nomination for Best Documentary Feature for The Other Half of the Sky : A China Memoir ( 1975 ) , and Best Actress nominations for Some Came Running ( 1958 ) , The Apartment ( 1960 ) , Irma la Douce ( 1963 ) , and The Turning Point ( 1977 ) , before winning Best Actress for Terms of Endearment ( 1983 ) . She twice won the BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actress , for Ask Any Girl ( 1959 ) , and The Apartment ( 1960 ) ; and won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy-Variety or Music Special for the 1976 TV special , Gypsy In My Soul . She has also won five competitive Golden Globe Awards and received the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 1998 ceremony .


The Apartment The Apartment is a 1960 American romantic comedy film that was produced and directed by Billy Wilder , and which stars Jack Lemmon , Shirley MacLaine , and Fred MacMurray .   It was Wilder 's next movie after Some Like It Hot and , like its predecessor , a commercial and critical success , grossing $ 25 million at the box office . The film was nominated for ten Academy Awards , and won five , including Best Picture . The film was the basis of the 1968 Broadway musical Promises , Promises , with book by Neil Simon , music by Burt Bacharach , and lyrics by Hal David .


Thor: The Dark World Thor : The Dark World is a 2013 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Thor , produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures . It is the sequel to 2011 's Thor and the eighth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe . The film was directed by Alan Taylor , with a screenplay by Christopher Yost and Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely . It stars Chris Hemsworth , Natalie Portman , Tom Hiddleston , Anthony Hopkins , Stellan Skarsgård , Idris Elba , Christopher Eccleston , Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje , Kat Dennings , Ray Stevenson , Zachary Levi , Tadanobu Asano , Jaimie Alexander , and Rene Russo . In Thor : The Dark World , Thor teams up with Loki to save the Nine Realms from the Dark Elves led by the vengeful Malekith , who intends to plunge the universe into darkness .   Development of Thor : The Dark World began in April 2011 , when producer Kevin Feige announced plans for a sequel to follow the crossover film The Avengers . In July 2011 , Kenneth Branagh , the director of Thor , withdrew from the project . Brian Kirk and Patty Jenkins were considered to direct the film before Taylor was hired in January 2012 . The supporting cast filled out in August 2012 , with the hiring of Eccleston , Dennings , and Akinnuoye-Agbaje . Principal photography began in September 2012 in Surrey , England with filming continuing in Iceland and London , before wrapping up in December 2012 . Thor : The Dark World was converted to 3D in post-production .   Thor : The Dark World premiered at the Odeon Leicester Square in London on October 22 , 2013 . It was released internationally on October 30 , 2013 , and on November 8 , 2013 , in the United States . The film received mixed reviews , but was a commercial success , grossing over $ 644 million worldwide . A third film , Thor : Ragnarok , is set for release on November 3 , 2017 .