1.
Midland, Texas
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Midland is a city in and the county seat of Midland County, Texas, United States, on the Southern Plains of the states western area. A small portion of the city extends into Martin County, at the 2010 census, the population of Midland was 111,147, and a 2015 estimate gave a total of 132,950, making it the twenty-fourth most populous city in the state of Texas. Due to the oil boom in Midland, certain officials have given population estimates above 155,000, the metropolitan area is also a component of the larger Midland−Odessa, Texas Combined Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 295,987 on July 1,2012. People in Midland are called Midlanders, Midland was founded as the midway point between Fort Worth and El Paso on the Texas and Pacific Railroad in 1881. It is the hometown of former First Lady Laura Bush, and the home of former Presidents George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush. Midland was established in June 1881 as Midway Station, on the Texas, Midland became the county seat of Midland County in March 1885, when that county was first organized and separated from Tom Green County. By 1890, it had one of the most important cattle shipping centers in the state. The city was incorporated in 1906, and by 1910 the city established its first fire department, soon, Midland was transformed into the administrative center of the West Texas oil fields. During the Second World War, Midland was the largest bombardier training base in the country, a second boom period began after the war, with the discovery and development of the Spraberry Trend, still ranked as the third-largest oil field in the United States by total reserves. Yet another boom period took place during the 1970s, with the oil prices associated with the oil. Today, the Permian Basin produces one fifth of the total petroleum. Midlands economy still relies heavily on petroleum, however, the city has diversified to become a regional telecommunications. By August 2006, a period of crude oil production had caused a significant workforce deficit. According to the Midland Chamber of Commerce, at that time there were almost 2,000 more jobs available in the Permian Basin than there were workers to fill them, John Howard Griffin wrote a history of Midland in 1959, Land of the High Sky. In 1967, the U. S. Supreme Court heard the case of Avery v. Midland County, Midland mayor Hank Avery had sued Midland County, challenging the electoral-districting scheme in effect for elections to the County Commissioners Court. The county districts geographically quartered the county, but the city of Midland, in the northwestern quarter, the majority of the U. S. Supreme Court held that the districting inequality violated the Fourteenth Amendments Equal Protection clause. The dissenting minority held that this example of the Warren Courts policy of incorporation at the local-government level exceeded the Courts constitutional authority, Midland is located at 32°0′N 102°6′W, in the Permian Basin in the plains of West Texas. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 71.5 square miles
2.
Texas
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Texas is the second largest state in the United States by both area and population. Other major cities include Austin, the second most populous state capital in the U. S. Texas is nicknamed the Lone Star State to signify its former status as an independent republic, and as a reminder of the states struggle for independence from Mexico. The Lone Star can be found on the Texan state flag, the origin of Texass name is from the word Tejas, which means friends in the Caddo language. Due to its size and geologic features such as the Balcones Fault, although Texas is popularly associated with the U. S. southwestern deserts, less than 10 percent of Texas land area is desert. Most of the centers are located in areas of former prairies, grasslands, forests. Traveling from east to west, one can observe terrain that ranges from coastal swamps and piney woods, to rolling plains and rugged hills, the term six flags over Texas refers to several nations that have ruled over the territory. Spain was the first European country to claim the area of Texas, Mexico controlled the territory until 1836 when Texas won its independence, becoming an independent Republic. In 1845, Texas joined the United States as the 28th state, the states annexation set off a chain of events that caused the Mexican–American War in 1846. A slave state before the American Civil War, Texas declared its secession from the U. S. in early 1861, after the Civil War and the restoration of its representation in the federal government, Texas entered a long period of economic stagnation. One Texan industry that thrived after the Civil War was cattle, due to its long history as a center of the industry, Texas is associated with the image of the cowboy. The states economic fortunes changed in the early 20th century, when oil discoveries initiated a boom in the state. With strong investments in universities, Texas developed a diversified economy, as of 2010 it shares the top of the list of the most Fortune 500 companies with California at 57. With a growing base of industry, the leads in many industries, including agriculture, petrochemicals, energy, computers and electronics, aerospace. Texas has led the nation in export revenue since 2002 and has the second-highest gross state product. The name Texas, based on the Caddo word tejas meaning friends or allies, was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves, during Spanish colonial rule, the area was officially known as the Nuevo Reino de Filipinas, La Provincia de Texas. Texas is the second largest U. S. state, behind Alaska, though 10 percent larger than France and almost twice as large as Germany or Japan, it ranks only 27th worldwide amongst country subdivisions by size. If it were an independent country, Texas would be the 40th largest behind Chile, Texas is in the south central part of the United States of America. Three of its borders are defined by rivers, the Rio Grande forms a natural border with the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas to the south
3.
Hanover College
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Hanover College is a private, co-ed, liberal arts college, located in rural Hanover, Indiana, U. S. near the banks of the Ohio River. The college is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, founded in 1827 by the Rev. John Finley Crowe, it is the oldest private college in Indiana. The Hanover athletic teams participate in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, graduates of Hanover are known as Hanoverians. Founded in 1827 by Rev. John Finley Crowe, Hanover College experienced a turbulent early period and it has become an established institution of liberal arts education. In 2002, the College celebrated its 175th anniversary, in the early 19th century, missionaries went to Hanover as part of the Second Great Awakening. Crowe served as pastor of the Hanover Presbyterian Church and he opened the Hanover Academy January 1,1827, in a small log cabin near his home. Two years later, the state of Indiana granted a charter to the Academy, on November 9,1829, the Academy’s Board of Trustees accepted a proposal by the Presbyterian Synod of Indiana to adopt the school, provided a theological department was established. A two-story brick building was constructed to house both the Academy and the new Indiana Seminary, the state of Indiana issued a new charter to the Academy, creating Hanover College effective January 1,1833. Under this charter, the colleges Board of Trustees is independent of ecclesiastical control, the association continues to this day. In the 1830s, the College Edifice was the center of a bustling, in 1834,119 students attended Hanover Preparatory School and 101 students attended Hanover College, rapid growth from the six students of only seven years earlier. In 1843 both the president and its trustees accepted a proposal from Madison city leaders to move Hanover College. The trustees dissolved the Hanover charter and established Madison University, however, Crowe purchased the college property and established the Hanover Classical and Mathematical School. Four months after Madison University was founded, its president had resigned, by May 1844, all of Madison’s students and faculty had made the trip five miles to the west. Hanover College was officially restored when Indianas legislature granted a new charter to the college on Christmas Day. Crowe, who served as faculty to the college for more than 30 years, the Board of Trustees voted in 1849 to purchase a 200-acre farm one-half mile to the east of Hanover’s campus. This land, overlooking the Ohio River, serves as the centerpiece of the campus today. By the mid-1850s, Classic Hall was constructed on a known as the Point. Old Classic would be Hanover’s signature building for more than 90 years, the Civil War, especially the Confederate maneuvers known as Morgans Raid, came close to campus, faculty and students were alerted that the troops might try to burn Classic Hall
4.
Charles Harrelson
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Charles Voyde Harrelson was an American organized crime figure who was convicted of assassinating federal judge John H. Wood Jr. the first federal judge killed in the 20th century. He was the father of actor Woody Harrelson. Charles Harrelson was born on July 23,1938, in Lovelady, Texas and he was married to Nancy Hillman Harrelson, Jo Ann Harrelson, Diane Lou Oswald and Gina Adelle Foster. Harrelson worked as a salesman in California and as a professional gambler. In 1960, he was convicted of armed robbery, Harrelsons son, Woody Harrelson, became a well-known television and film actor. According to Woody, his father disappeared from the home in Houston in 1968, leaving his wife Diane to raise Woody. Woody lost track of his father until 1981, when news broke of Harrelsons arrest for the murder of Judge Wood, still, Im just now gauging whether he merits my loyalty or friendship. I look at him as someone who could be a more than someone who was a father. Defended by Percy Foreman, Harrelson was tried for the 1968 murder of Alan Harry Berg, on September 22,1970, he was acquitted by a jury in Angleton, Texas. The murder is chronicled in the memoir Run Brother Run by the victims brother, prior to Woods murder, Harrelson was tried for the 1968 murder-for-hire killing of Sam Degelia Jr. a resident of Hearne, Texas. Harrelson was paid $2000 for the murder of Degelia, a dealer and father of four who was killed in McAllen. His first trial ended with a jury, although Pete Scamardo was also tried in the case, found guilty of being an accomplice to the murder. Harrelson was retried in 1973, convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison, in 1978, after serving 5 years, he was released early for good behavior. Shortly after Harrelson was paroled in 1978, he was implicated in another murder, on May 29,1979, U. S. District Judge John H. Wood Jr. was shot dead in the parking lot outside his San Antonio, Texas, townhouse. Harrelson was convicted of killing Judge Wood after being hired by drug dealer Jamiel Chagra of El Paso, Harrelson was apprehended with the aid of an anonymous tip and a tape recording of a conversation that occurred during a visit from Joe Chagra to his brother Jamiel Chagra in prison. Harrelson claimed at trial that he did not kill Judge Wood, Harrelson was sentenced to two life terms based largely on Chagras conversation with his brother from prison. Both Harrelson and Joe Chagra were implicated in the assassination, Jamiel Chagra was acquitted of the murder when his brother Joe refused to testify against him. Chagra was represented by future mayor of Las Vegas, Oscar Goodman, in a plea bargain, Jamiel Chagra admitted to his role in the murder of Judge Wood and to the attempted murder of a U. S. Attorney
5.
Academy Award
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The various category winners are awarded a copy of a golden statuette, officially called the Academy Award of Merit, which has become commonly known by its nickname Oscar. The awards, first presented in 1929 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, are overseen by AMPAS, the awards ceremony was first broadcast on radio in 1930 and televised for the first time in 1953. It is now live in more than 200 countries and can be streamed live online. The Academy Awards ceremony is the oldest worldwide entertainment awards ceremony and its equivalents – the Emmy Awards for television, the Tony Awards for theater, and the Grammy Awards for music and recording – are modeled after the Academy Awards. The 89th Academy Awards ceremony, honoring the best films of 2016, were held on February 26,2017, at the Dolby Theatre, in Los Angeles, the ceremony was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and was broadcast on ABC. A total of 3,048 Oscars have been awarded from the inception of the award through the 88th, the first Academy Awards presentation was held on May 16,1929, at a private dinner function at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel with an audience of about 270 people. The post-awards party was held at the Mayfair Hotel, the cost of guest tickets for that nights ceremony was $5. Fifteen statuettes were awarded, honoring artists, directors and other participants in the industry of the time. The ceremony ran for 15 minutes, winners were announced to media three months earlier, however, that was changed for the second ceremony in 1930. Since then, for the rest of the first decade, the results were given to newspapers for publication at 11,00 pm on the night of the awards. The first Best Actor awarded was Emil Jannings, for his performances in The Last Command and he had to return to Europe before the ceremony, so the Academy agreed to give him the prize earlier, this made him the first Academy Award winner in history. With the fourth ceremony, however, the system changed, for the first six ceremonies, the eligibility period spanned two calendar years. At the 29th ceremony, held on March 27,1957, until then, foreign-language films had been honored with the Special Achievement Award. The 74th Academy Awards, held in 2002, presented the first Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, since 1973, all Academy Awards ceremonies always end with the Academy Award for Best Picture. The Academy also awards Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting, see also § Awards of Merit categories The best known award is the Academy Award of Merit, more popularly known as the Oscar statuette. The five spokes represent the branches of the Academy, Actors, Writers, Directors, Producers. The model for the statuette is said to be Mexican actor Emilio El Indio Fernández, sculptor George Stanley sculpted Cedric Gibbons design. The statuettes presented at the ceremonies were gold-plated solid bronze
6.
Emmy Award
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An Emmy Award, or simply Emmy, recognizes excellence in the television industry, and corresponds to the Academy Award, the Tony Award, and the Grammy Award. Because Emmy Awards are given in various sectors of the American television industry, Regional Emmy Awards are also presented throughout the country at various times through the year, recognizing excellence in local and statewide television. In addition, International Emmys are awarded for excellence in TV programming produced, each is responsible for administering a particular set of Emmy ceremonies. The Los Angeles-based Academy of Television Arts & Sciences established the Emmy Award as part of an image-building and public relations opportunity. The first Emmy Awards ceremony took place on January 25,1949, at the Hollywood Athletic Club, shirley Dinsdale has the distinction of receiving the very first Emmy Award for Most Outstanding Television Personality, during that first awards ceremony. In the 1950s, the ATAS expanded the Emmys into a national event, in 1955, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences was formed in New York City as a sister organization to serve members on the East Coast, and help to also supervise the Emmys. The NATAS also established regional chapters throughout the United States, with each one developing their own local Emmy awards show for local programming, the ATAS still however maintained its separate regional ceremony honoring local programming in the Los Angeles Area. Originally there was only one Emmy Awards ceremony held per year to honor shows nationally broadcast in the United States, in 1974, the first Daytime Emmy Awards ceremony was held to specifically honor achievement in national daytime programming. Other area-specific Emmy Awards ceremonies soon followed, also, the International Emmy Awards, honoring television programs produced and initially aired outside the U. S. was established in the early 1970s. Meanwhile, all Emmys awarded prior to the emergence of these separate, in 1977, due to various conflicts, the ATAS and the NATAS agreed to split ties. However, they agreed to share ownership of the Emmy statue and trademark. With the rise of television in the 1980s, cable programs first became eligible for the Primetime Emmys in 1988. The ATAS also began accepting original online-only web television programs in 2013, the Emmy statuette, depicting a winged woman holding an atom, was designed by television engineer Louis McManus, who used his wife as the model. The TV Academy rejected a total of forty-seven proposals before settling on McManus design in 1948. The statuette has become the symbol of the TV Academys goal of supporting and uplifting the art and science of television, The wings represent the muse of art. When deciding a name for the award, Academy founder Syd Cassyd originally suggested Ike, however, Ike was also the popular nickname of World War II hero and future U. S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and the Academy members wanted something unique. Finally, television engineer and the third president, Harry Lubcke, suggested the name Immy. After Immy was chosen, it was feminized to Emmy to match their female statuette
7.
Cheers
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Cheers is an American sitcom that ran on NBC from September 30,1982 to May 20,1993, with a total of 270 half-hour episodes spanning over eleven seasons. The show was produced by Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions in association with Paramount Network Television, the show was created by the team of James Burrows, Glen Charles, and Les Charles. The show is set in a bar named Cheers in Boston, Massachusetts, where a group of locals meet to drink, relax, the shows main theme song, written and performed by Gary Portnoy lent its famous refrain Where Everybody Knows Your Name as the shows tagline. After premiering on September 30,1982, it was canceled during its first season when it ranked almost last in ratings for its premiere. Cheers, however, eventually became a highly rated show in the United States, earning a top-ten rating during eight of its eleven seasons. The show spent most of its run on NBCs Thursday night Must See TV lineup and its widely watched series finale was broadcast on May 20,1993, and the shows 270 episodes have been successfully syndicated worldwide. Nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series for all eleven of its seasons on the air, the character Frasier Crane was featured in his eponymous spin-off show, which aired until 2004 and included guest appearances by virtually all of the major and minor Cheers characters. During its run, Cheers became one of the most popular series of all time and has received critical acclaim. In 1997, the episodes Thanksgiving Orphans and Home Is the Sailor, aired originally in 1987, were respectively ranked No.7, in 2002, Cheers was ranked No.18 on TV Guides 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time. In 2013, the Writers Guild of America ranked it as the eighth best written TV series, before the Cheers pilot Give Me a Ring Sometime was completed and aired in 1982, the series originally consisted of four employees in the first script. Neither Norm Peterson nor Cliff Clavin, regular customers of Cheers, were featured, in later years, Woody Boyd replaces Coach, who dies off-screen in season four to account for actor Nicholas Colasantos death. Frasier Crane starts as a character and becomes a permanent character. In season six, they added a new character Rebecca Howe, Lilith Sternin starts as a one-time character in an episode of season four, Second Time Around. After she appears in two episodes in five, she becomes a recurring character, and later featured as a permanent one for season ten. Ted Danson portrays Sam Malone, a bartender and an owner of Cheers, before the series began, he was a baseball relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox nicknamed Mayday Malone until he became an alcoholic, harming his career. He has an on-again, off-again relationship with Diane Chambers, his class opposite, during their off-times, Sam has flings with many not-so-bright sexy women, yet fails to pursue a meaningful relationship and fails to seduce other women, such as intellectuals. After Diane is written out of the series, he tries to pursue Rebecca Howe, at the end of the series, he is still unmarried and recovering from sexual addiction with a help of Dr. Robert Suttons group meetings, advised by Frasier. Shelley Long portrays Diane Chambers, an academic, sophisticated graduate student, in the pilot Diane is abandoned by her fiancé, leaving her without a job, a man, or money
8.
Woody Boyd
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Woodrow Huckleberry Tiberius Woody Boyd is a character on the American television show Cheers, portrayed by Woody Harrelson. Woody came to Cheers at the beginning of the season of Cheers in 1985 in the episode Birth, Death, Love. Woody appeared in 200 episodes of Cheers between 1985 and 1993 and he also made a guest appearance on Frasier in the episode The Show Where Woody Shows Up and on The Simpsons episode Fear of Flying. Woody was born on July 23 and hails from Hanover, Indiana and he and his childhood sweetheart, Beth Curtis, were also voted Couple Most Likely to Explode, as they were both obese at the time. It was later revealed that they ate, to excess. Woody followed in Coachs footsteps in many ways, failing to understand the most obvious jokes, concepts, Woody was essentially a straight man for all of the other characters at Cheers, though his humor stemmed from his misunderstandings. Woody once told Dr. Crane he was the smartest man he knew, Woody seemed to have an off-center mentality, misunderstanding others comments much as Coach had done. For example, when Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers appears and starts singing Youve Lost That Loving Feeling, Woody asks him, with the exception of Carla, Eddie, and Sam, Woody always addresses other characters by their honorific. Sometimes this leads to awkward phrasing such as referring to Lilith as Mrs. Dr. Sternin-Crane, Woody arrived at Cheers expecting to meet his pen pal Coach, with whom he exchanged pens instead of letters. Upon learning of Coachs death, he filled the open bartender position and he also developed a big brother/little brother relationship with Sam Malone, the owner of Cheers. In the final season, Frasier Crane orchestrated an experiment that went awry and he and Kelly were expecting their first child when Cheers ended. Frasier extrapolates on Woodys interest in a career to the point that Woody becomes President of the United States. Woody makes a guest appearance on Frasier, the show from Cheers. During a visit to Seattle he reconnects with Frasier Crane, who had moved there from Boston. The two men decide to part company on good terms, after sharing a drink with each other, leading Woody to utter his final line. Although this is Woodys only appearance on the show, he is referenced both prior to and after this. When Sam visits Frasier in the season 2 episode, The Show Where Sam Comes Back, he reveals that Kelly and Woodys first child was a boy, who is of normal intelligence. In the season 9 episode Cheerful Goodbyes, Frasier reveals that at his party at Cheers before returning to Seattle, Woody grabbed onto his legs
9.
White Men Can't Jump
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White Men Cant Jump is a 1992 American sports comedy film written and directed by Ron Shelton, starring Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson as streetball hustlers. The film was released in the United States on March 27,1992, Billy Hoyle is a former college basketball player who makes his living by hustling streetballers that assume he cannot play well because he is white. Billy never degrades his race when joining on pickup games, he allows his African American opponents to falsely believe they have a natural advantage over him. Such a player is Sidney Dean, a talented but arrogant player who is beaten twice by Billy, once in a court team game. Billy and his Hispanic girlfriend Gloria Clemente are on the run from outbid mobsters because of a gambling debt, a voracious reader, making note of obscure facts, Glorias goal in life is to be a contestant on the television show Jeopardy. and make a fortune. Sidney wants to buy a house for his family outside the rough Baldwin Village and he talks Billy into a partnership and they hustle other players. When they unexpectedly lose a game, it out that Sidney has double-crossed Billy by deliberately playing badly alongside him. Gloria is incensed at Billy for blowing his money again and is suspicious of how it happened. They go to Sidneys apartment and appeal to his wife Rhonda for fairness, while they bicker incessantly, Sidney and Billy win the grand prize of $5,000, largely due to Billys ability to disrupt his opponents concentration. Billys most notable claim is that he is in the zone, Sidney is pleased with the outcome, yet he cannot help mocking Billy about his inability to slam dunk. White men cant jump, he notes, Billy insists that he can indeed dunk, and after Sidney clearly disagrees, Billy offers to bet his share of the $5,000 on his ability to dunk. When he tells Gloria, she leaves him, Sidney reveals that he has a friend who works as a security guard at the TV studio that produces Jeopardy. The friend, Robert, agrees to use his connections to get her on the show if Billy can sink a hook shot from beyond the half-court line, which he does. Gloria initially stumbles over sports questions, but makes a comeback with a pet topic and she wins $14,100 on her first episode. Billy sings Gloria a song he has composed and wins her back, as Billys life comes together, this time it is Sidney who needs Billys help, his home is burglarized and his winnings stolen, so he and Rhonda become desperate for money. Gloria expects Billy to get a job and settle down. Gloria warns that if Billy gambles with her money they are through, Billy feels he must honor the obligation he owes Sidney for getting Gloria on Jeopardy. in the first place. They play a game against two hoops legends of the L. A. scene, The King and Duck
10.
Kingpin (1996 film)
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Kingpin is a 1996 American sports comedy film directed by the Farrelly brothers and starring Woody Harrelson, Randy Quaid, Vanessa Angel, and Bill Murray. The film stars Harrelson as an alcoholic ex-professional bowler who becomes the manager for a promising Amish talent played by Quaid and it was filmed in and around Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Amish country, and Reno, Nevada. Flashy young bowler Roy Munson wins the 1979 Iowa state bowling championship, in his professional bowling tour debut, he defeats established pro Ernie McCracken, who takes the loss poorly and seeks revenge. McCracken convinces Roy to join him in a plot to hustle a group of local amateur bowlers. When the amateurs become furious after realizing they are being conned, McCracken flees while Roy is brutally beaten and loses his hand when it is forced into the ball return, ending his career. 17 years later, Roy uses a hand and is living in Scranton, Pennsylvania where he sells novelty items with little success. On a sales visit to a bowling alley, Roy catches sight of a man named Ishmael Boorg rolling a near-perfect game. Roy tries to convince Ishmael to turn pro, with Roy acting as manager, Ishmael declines the offer, explaining that he is from the local Amish community and that his bowling hobby is a secret. Roy then sees a poster in a magazine advertising a $1 million winner-take-all tournament in Reno. Roy discovers that the childlike Ishmael is not aware of some of basic rules and skills. The duo earn money while traveling to Reno through Ishmaels success in local tournaments. As the group flee Osmanskis mansion, they are joined by his girlfriend Claudia who had also been a victim of Osmanskis violence, Claudia proceeds to travel with them, annoying Roy who suspects Claudia has ulterior motives and is distracting Ishmael. After Roy gets in a big fight with her, Ishmael bails on them over it, during his absence, Roy and Claudia drive on and end up at his family home, abandoned ever since Roys father passed years ago. He confessed to Claudia he never went back for his funeral as he felt ashamed of his failure as a professional bowler, eventually they run across Ishmael and they continue on to Reno. Arriving in Reno the group runs into McCracken, who is now a national bowling superstar and it is revealed that McCracken had previously been romantically involved with Claudia. McCracken insults and makes fun of Roy, and infuriates Ishmael to the point where he attempts to punch McCracken but instead hits a wall and breaks his hand, later on, Claudia disappears with the duos funds after being discovered by Stanley, leaving Roy and Ishmael broke. Feeling distraught, Ishmael convinces Roy that they still have a chance to win the $1,000,000 – if Roy will bowl, though initially hesitant, Roy finally agrees and enters the tournament, rolling the ball with his prosthetic rubber hand. He rediscovers his previous talent and wins his first several rounds, during the final match Ishmaels brother, who had been sent by the Boorg family to find Ishmael, shows up and takes him back to Pennsylvania
11.
The Hunger Games (film series)
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The Hunger Games film series consists of four science fiction dystopian adventure films based on The Hunger Games trilogy of novels, by the American author Suzanne Collins. Gary Ross directed the first film, while Francis Lawrence directed the three films. The first three films set records at the box office, the Hunger Games set records for the opening day and the biggest opening weekend for a non-sequel film. The Hunger Games, Catching Fire set the record for biggest opening weekend in the month of November, the Hunger Games, Mockingjay – Part 1 had the largest opening day and weekend of 2014. The Hunger Games is the 15th highest-grossing film franchise of all time, following the release of Suzanne Collins novel The Hunger Games, on September 14,2008, Hollywood film studios began looking to adapt the book into film. In March 2009, Color Force, an independent studio founded by producer Nina Jacobson, Jacobson then sought out production company Lionsgate to help her produce the film. Collins was also attached to adapt the novel, she began the first draft after completing the novel in the series. The search for a director began in 2010 with three directors in the running, David Slade, Sam Mendes, and Gary Ross, Ross was ultimately chosen to direct. By the time Collins had finished the script, Ross decided to go through the script with Collins, in October 2010, scripts were sent to the actors, and casting occurred between March and May 2011. The first role cast was of the protagonist, Katniss Everdeen, as many as 30 actresses were in talks to play the part, with Jennifer Lawrence, Hailee Steinfeld, Abigail Breslin, and Chloë Grace Moretz being mentioned most. The role was given to Lawrence, the roles of Peeta Mellark, Katniss fellow tribute, and Gale Hawthorne, her best friend, began casting later that month. Top contenders for Peeta included Josh Hutcherson, Alexander Ludwig, Hunter Parrish, Evan Peters, contenders for Gale included Robbie Amell, Liam Hemsworth, David Henrie, and Drew Roy. On April 4, it was reported that Hemsworth had been cast as Gale, filming for the franchise began on May 23,2011 and finished on June 20,2014. Suzanne Collins and Louise Rosner acted as producers on the first two films. Other executive producers of the first film include Robin Bissell and Shantal Feghali, co-producers are Diana Alvarez, Martin Cohen, Louis Phillips, Bryan Unkeless, and Aldric Laauli Porter. Color Force and Lionsgate collaborated on all four films, Gary Ross directed the first film, and despite initially stating otherwise on April 10,2012, Lionsgate announced that Ross would not return to direct the sequel. Suzanne Collins began adapting the first book to film after she finished writing Mockingjay, Collins had experience in writing screenplays after writing Cliffords Puppy Days and other childrens television shows. When Gary Ross was announced as director for the film in 2010, he began to work with Collins, the script was large and resulted in a two-hour and 20 minute film
12.
The Cowboy Way (film)
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The Cowboy Way is a 1994 American action comedy crime film directed by Gregg Champion and starring Woody Harrelson and Kiefer Sutherland. S. When they discover hes been murdered, the pair set out to find the killer. The tired formula may still have life left in it. This dud ranch is saddled with the teaming of dumb guns Woody Harrelson. The Cowboy Way at the Internet Movie Database The Cowboy Way at Rotten Tomatoes The Cowboy Way at Box Office Mojo
13.
Zombieland
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Zombieland is a 2009 American comedy horror film directed by Ruben Fleischer and written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. The film stars Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, the film premiered at Fantastic Fest on September 25,2009 and was theatrically released on October 2,2009 in the United States by Columbia Pictures. Unaffected college student Columbus is making his way from his college dorm in Austin, Texas, to Columbus, Ohio and he encounters Tallahassee, another survivor, who is particularly violent in killing zombies. Though he doesnt appear to be sociable, Tallahassee reluctantly allows Columbus to travel with him, Tallahassee mentions he misses his puppy that was killed by zombies, as well as his affinity for Twinkies, which he actively tries to find. The pair meet Wichita and her younger sister Little Rock in a grocery store, the sisters are con artists, and trick Tallahassee and Columbus into handing over their weapons by pretending that Little Rock was infected by the disease, then steal their Escalade. The two men find a yellow Hummer H2 loaded with weapons and go after the sisters, however, the girls spring another trap for them and take them hostage. Tallahassee steals his gun back and has a stand-off with Wichita, until Columbus lashes out in anger that they have problems to worry about. The sisters reveal that they are going to the Pacific Playland amusement park in Los Angeles, after learning his home town has been destroyed, and his parents likely killed, Columbus decides to accompany the others to California. Along the trip, Columbus persists in trying to impress and woo Wichita, when the group reaches Hollywood, Tallahassee directs them to Bill Murrays mansion. Tallahassee and Wichita meet Murray himself, uninfected but disguised as a zombie so he can walk safely around town, Murray is killed when Columbus shoots him, mistaking him for a real zombie during a practical joke while watching Ghostbusters with Little Rock. Columbus realizes during a game of Monopoly that Tallahassee has not been grieving for his puppy, Wichita becomes increasingly attracted to Columbus, and Tallahassee bonds with Little Rock, with whom he was previously at odds. Despite Wichitas attraction to Columbus, she fears attachment and leaves with Little Rock for Pacific Playland the next morning, Columbus decides to go after Wichita, and convinces Tallahassee to join him. At Pacific Playland, the sisters activate all the rides and lights and begin to enjoy the park, a chase ensues, and just as the sisters are trapped on a drop tower ride called Blast Off, Tallahassee and Columbus arrive. Tallahassee lures the zombies away from the tower, creating a distraction for Columbus to get to the tower ride, Tallahassee eventually locks himself in a game booth, shooting zombies as they arrive. In thanks, Wichita kisses Columbus and reveals her real name, Tallahassee raids a deep fried Twinkies stand in search of his snack. During this, Columbus is startled by the noises of a rat and accidentally shoots at the last remaining box of Twinkies in the pantry, destroying all the cakes, luckily, Little Rock has gotten a Twinkie beforehand and gives it to Tallahassee. The movie ends with the group leaving Pacific Playland as Columbus realizes without relating to people, that you might as well be a zombie, and that he now has what hes always wanted. By the end of the film, his list has thirty-three rules, a series of promotional videos starring Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg expanded on the list presented in the film
14.
Natural Born Killers
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Natural Born Killers is a 1994 American satirical crime film directed by Oliver Stone and starring Woody Harrelson, Juliette Lewis, Robert Downey Jr. Tom Sizemore, and Tommy Lee Jones. The film was released in the United States on August 26,1994, the film tells the story of two victims of traumatic childhoods who became lovers and mass murderers, and are irresponsibly glorified by the mass media. Jane Hamsher, Don Murphy, and Clayton Townsend produced the film, with Arnon Milchan, Thom Mount, the film was released theatrically on August 26,1994 in the United States, February 24,1995 and premiered on Venice Film Festival on August 29,1994. Notorious for its violent content and inspiring copycat crimes, the film was named the eighth most controversial film in history by Entertainment Weekly in 2006, Mickey Knox and his wife Mallory stop at a roadside café in the New Mexico desert. A group of rednecks arrive and one begins sexually harassing Mallory and she briefly encourages him before beating him to a pulp. Mickey and Mallory then murder all but one of the patrons, culminating in a morbid game of Eeny, meeny, miny. After executing the waitress Mabel, the couple ensures that the only survivor remembers their names before they embrace, Mickey and Mallory camp out in the desert, and Mallory reminisces about when they first met. A flashback shows Mickey as a deliveryman who came to the house where Mallory lived with her abusive father, her neglectful mother. Mickey and Mallory fall in love instantly and leave together, as Mickey steals a car that belongs to Mallorys father, soon Mickey is arrested and imprisoned for auto theft, but he subsequently escapes from a prison work farm during a tornado and returns to Mallorys house. The two kill Mallorys parents, but spare Kevin, and go on the road together and get married on the side of a bridge, furious with Mickeys notion that they have a threesome, Mallory drives to a nearby gas station, where she flirts with the mechanic. They begin to have sex on the hood of a car, during this time, Mickey rapes the hostage. The pair continue their killing spree, ultimately claiming fifty-two victims in New Mexico, Arizona, pursuing them is Detective Jack Scagnetti, who became obsessed with mass murderers after witnessing his mother being shot and killed by Charles Whitman when he was eight. Beneath his heroic facade, he is a violent psychopath, once strangling a prostitute to death, the killers are also followed by self-serving tabloid journalist Wayne Gale. Gale profiles Mickey and Mallory on his show, American Maniacs, Mickey and Mallory become lost in the desert and encounter Warren Red Cloud, a Navajo Indian, and his young grandson. After the two fall asleep, the Navajo, hoping to expel the demon he perceives in Mickey, begins chanting beside the fire, Mickey wakes up in a rage and fatally shoots Red Cloud before he realizes what he is doing. It is the first time Mallory and Mickey feel guilty for a murder, fleeing from the scene through the desert, they stray onto a field of rattlesnakes and are both bitten. They drive to a drugstore to find snakebite antidote, but the pharmacist sets off the silent alarm before Mickey kills him, soon police cars arrive and Mallory is captured and subsequently beaten by the police. A gunfight breaks out between Mickey and the others, Scagnetti arrives and tells Mickey that unless he surrenders, he will cut off Mallorys breasts
15.
Larry Flynt
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Larry Claxton Flynt, Jr. is an American publisher and the president of Larry Flynt Publications. LFP mainly produces sexually graphic videos and magazines, most notably Hustler, Flynt has fought several prominent legal battles involving the First Amendment, and has unsuccessfully run for public office. He is paralyzed from the waist down due to injuries sustained in a 1978 murder attempt by Joseph Paul Franklin, in 2003, Arena magazine listed him at No.1 on the 50 Powerful People in Porn list. He had two siblings, sister Judy and brother Jimmy Ray Flynt. His father served in the United States Army in the European Theatre of World War II, due to his fathers absence, Flynt was raised solely by his mother and maternal grandmother for the first three years of his life. Flynt was raised in poverty, and claimed Magoffin County was the poorest county in the nation during the Great Depression, in 1951, Flynts sister, Judy, died due to leukemia at age four. The death provoked his parents one year later, Flynt was raised by his mother in Hamlet, Indiana. Two years later, Flynt returned to live in Magoffin County with his father because he disliked his mothers new boyfriend, Flynt attended Salyersville High School in the ninth grade. However, he ran away home and, despite being only 15 years old. It was around this time that he developed a passion for the game of poker, after being honorably discharged, Flynt returned to his mother in Indiana and found employment at the Inland Manufacturing Company, an affiliate of General Motors. However, there was a slowdown and he was laid off after only three months. He then returned to his father in Kentucky, for a brief period, he became a bootlegger but stopped when he learned that county deputies were searching for him. After living on his savings for two months, he enlisted in the United States Navy in July 1960 and he became a radar operator on USS Enterprise. He was the operator on duty when the ship was assigned to recover John Glenns space capsule and he was honorably discharged in July 1964. In early 1965, Flynt took $1,800 from his savings and bought his mothers Dayton, Ohio bar and he refitted it and was soon making $1,000 a week, he used the profits to buy two other bars. He worked as many as 20 hours a day, taking amphetamines to stay awake and he frequently had to break up fistfights between drunken customers. Flynt decided to open a new, higher-class bar, which would also be the first in the area to feature nude hostess dancers, he named it the Hustler Club. From 1968 onward, with the help of his brother Jimmy and later his girlfriend Althea Leasure, he opened Hustler Clubs in Akron, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, soon each club grossed between $260,000 and $520,000 a year
16.
The People vs. Larry Flynt
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Larry Flynt is a 1996 American biographical drama film directed by Miloš Forman and starring Woody Harrelson, Courtney Love, and Edward Norton. It chronicles the rise of pornographic magazine publisher and editor Larry Flynt and his subsequent clash with religious institutions, the film was written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski. Though not a success, the film was lauded by critics. In 1952, 10-year-old Larry Flynt is selling moonshine in Kentucky, twenty years later, Flynt and his younger brother, Jimmy, run the Hustler Go-Go club in Cincinnati. With profits down, Flynt decides to publish a newsletter for the club, the newsletter soon becomes a full-fledged magazine, but sales are weak. After Hustler publishes nude pictures of former first lady Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Flynt becomes smitten with Althea Leasure, a stripper who works at one of his clubs. With Althea and Jimmys help, Flynt makes a fortune from sales of Hustler, with his success comes enemies - as he finds himself a hated figure of anti-pornography activists. He argues with the activists, saying that murder is illegal, however, he continues, sex is legal, but if you take a picture of that act, you can go to jail. He becomes involved in several prominent court cases, and befriends a young lawyer, in 1975, Flynt loses a smut-peddling court decision in Cincinnati but is released from jail soon afterwards on a technicality. Ruth Carter Stapleton, a Christian activist and sister of President Jimmy Carter, seeks out Flynt, Flynt seems moved and starts letting his newfound religion influence everything in his life, including Hustler content. In 1978, during trial in Georgia, Flynt and Isaacman are both shot by a man with a rifle while they walk outside a courthouse. Isaacman recovers, but Flynt is paralyzed from the waist down, wishing he was dead, Flynt renounces God. Because of the emotional and physical pain, he moves to Beverly Hills and spirals down into depression, during this time, Althea also becomes addicted to painkillers and morphine. In 1983, Flynt undergoes surgery to deaden several nerves in his back damaged by the bullet wounds and he returns to an active role with the publication, which, in his absence, had been run by Althea and Jimmy. Flynt is soon in court again for leaking videos relating to the John DeLorean entrapment case and he later wears an American flag as an adult diaper along with an army helmet, and wears T-shirts with provocative messages such as I Wish I Was Black and Fuck This Court. After spitting water at the judge Flynt is sent to a psychiatric ward, Flynt publishes a satirical parody ad in which Jerry Falwell tells of a sexual encounter with his mother. Falwell sues for libel and emotional distress, Flynt countersues for copyright infringement, because Falwell copied his ad. The case goes to trial in December 1984, but the decision is mixed, as Flynt is found guilty of inflicting emotional distress, by that time, Althea has contracted HIV, which proceeds to AIDS
17.
A Prairie Home Companion (film)
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A Prairie Home Companion is a 2006 American ensemble comedy film directed by Robert Altman and is his final film. The film is a representation of behind-the-scenes activities at the long-running public radio show of the same name. The film received positive reviews and was a moderate box office success on its small budget. The film features an ensemble cast including Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Tommy Lee Jones, Woody Harrelson, Lily Tomlin, Garrison Keillor, Virginia Madsen, John C. A long-running live radio show is in danger of being canceled by new owners of the company that both radio station WLT and the theater where the show is broadcast. The film takes place on the night of the shows last performance and he makes it clear that the show is not what he considers modern popular programming, and though he too is escorted by the angel, the show is shut down anyway. In an epilogue at the end of the film the former cast members are reunited at Mickeys Diner and their conversation pauses as they are joined by Asphodel. Garrison Keillor as Himself Meryl Streep as Yolanda Johnson Lily Tomlin as Rhonda Johnson Lindsay Lohan as Lola Johnson Woody Harrelson as Dusty John C. Reilly as Lefty Tommy Lee Jones as the Axeman Kevin Kline as Keillors radio character Guy Noir Virginia Madsen as the Dangerous Woman Asphodel L. Q. Using the working title The Last Show, principal photography for the film began on June 29,2005, at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, filming ended on July 28,2005. The lack of space led to the basement also being used for some sets, set design had to make the show more visually interesting, and fake dressing rooms were used in the film. The movies production designer noted that Keillors actual dressing room is about the size of a very, very small bathroom, Mickeys Diner, a downtown St. Paul landmark, is also featured in the film. On November 1,2005, the Star Tribune reported that an early screening in New York City for film distributors resulted in a bidding war. At the screening, Garrison said that to broaden the appeal, they were thinking about changing the name to Savage Love, so we may have an argument there. The films stars arrived in ten horse-drawn carriages, brian Williams of NBC Nightly News anchored his newscast from neighboring Minneapolis, Minnesota, that night so that he would be able to attend. Critics general reaction to the film was favorable, and it garnered an 81% fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes. Roger Ebert awarded the four out of four stars, saying, What a lovely film this is, so gentle and whimsical, so simple and profound. Desson Thomson from The Washington Post fell in between, saying in a review headlined Honey, You Could Ask for More that while the movie had its strengths, it was weaker than it should have been
18.
Now You See Me (film)
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Now You See Me is a 2013 American heist thriller film directed by Louis Leterrier and written by Ed Solomon, Boaz Yakin and Edward Ricourt. The film features an ensemble cast of Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Mélanie Laurent, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman. The plot follows an FBI agent and an Interpol detective who track a team of illusionists who pull off bank heists during their performances and reward their audiences with the money. The film premiered in New York City on May 21,2013 before its release in the United States on May 31,2013 by Summit Entertainment. The film received mixed reviews from critics but became a box office success, a sequel was released on June 10,2016. A year later, the four perform their first major performance as the Four Horsemen in an elaborate Las Vegas show funded by insurance magnate Arthur Tressler. Their final trick appears to one of the audience members to the vault of his bank, the Crédit Républicain in Paris. At the magicians commands, the fans in the vault activate, drawing the bills into the vents, the two question the magicians but have no evidence to hold them. Dylan and Alma turn to Thaddeus Bradley, a magician who now helps to explain the tricks behind other magic acts. Dylan and Alma attempt to apprehend the four, but the magicians elude capture, Tressler hires Thaddeus to expose the Horsemen in revenge for the loss of his money. Alma investigates the Horsemen and determines they are connected to a called the Eye. She finds out one of the Eyes members, Lionel Shrike, had previously been exposed by Thaddeus, Alma suspects a fifth person is aiding the Horsemen. Almas research leads the FBI to the New York City apartment, when they raid it, the other three escape while Jack recovers numerous documents and then leads the authorities on a high-speed car chase. Jack loses control of his car, causing it to flip, Dylan is unable to save Jack, but manages to recover the papers, pointing to the Horsemens next planned crime, stealing millions of dollars in cash out of a large Elkhorn safe. Dylan, Alma, and Thaddeus find the safe has already stolen. The Horsemen broadcast they will perform their show that night at 5 Pointz. The FBI and police converge on the scene and amid the chaos search for the Horsemen, the three jump, turning into a shower of money over the crowd. The money is counterfeit, but the race to collect it prevents the authorities from tracking the real Horsemen
19.
The Messenger (2009 film)
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The Messenger is a 2009 war drama film starring Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson, Samantha Morton, Steve Buscemi, and Jena Malone. It is the debut of Oren Moverman, who also wrote the screenplay with Alessandro Camon. The film received first prize for the 2009 Deauville American Film Festival, the film has also received four Independent Spirit Award nominations, a Golden Globe nomination, and two Academy Award nominations. Will Montgomery, a lone rebellious U. S. Army staff sergeant and declared war hero, has returned home from Iraq, Montgomery is partnered with a strict recovering alcoholic, Captain Tony Stone, to give notice to the families of fallen soldiers. The Sergeant is drawn to Olivia Pitterson, now a single mother, will Montgomery Woody Harrelson as Capt. Tony Stone Samantha Morton as Olivia Pitterson Jena Malone as Kelly Steve Buscemi as Dale Martin Yaya DaCosta as Monica Washington Eamonn Walker as LtCol. In North America, The Messenger opened in limited release in 4 theaters, the film went on to earn $1,109,660 domestically and $411,601 internationally for a total of $1,521,261, below its budget of $6.5 million. Though not a box office success, the film was praised by critics and has a 90% Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 155 reviews, with an average rating of 7.5 out of 10. The critical consensus states A dark but timely subject is handled deftly by writer/director Owen Moverman and superbly acted by Woody Harrleson, the film also currently holds a score of 77 on Metacritic based on 27 reviews. Harrelsons performance was subject to considerable praise, leading to Golden Globe, the Messenger received strong positive reviews from critics and appeared on several critics top ten lists of the best films of 2009
20.
True Detective (season 1)
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The first season of True Detective, an American anthology crime drama television series created by Nic Pizzolatto, premiered on January 12,2014 on the premium cable network HBO. Its principal cast consisted of Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Michelle Monaghan, Michael Potts, the season had eight episodes, and its initial airing concluded on March 9,2014. As an anthology, each True Detective season possesses its own self-contained story, engineered as a nonlinear narrative, season one focuses on the lives of Louisiana State Police homicide detectives Rustin Rust Cohle and Martin Marty Hart. During this time, Harts infidelity threatens his marriage to Maggie, Pizzolatto initially conceived True Detective as a novel, but felt it was more suitable for television. The episodes, directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, were filmed in Louisiana over a three-month period, the series received positive reviews from critics and was cited as one of the strongest dramas of the 2014 television season. Inspired by HBOs series The Wire, The Sopranos, and Deadwood, he working on a short story collection that he later published as Between Here. Several years later he wrote a novel titled Galveston, published in 2010. His earlier attempts at writing were unsuccessful because of a lack of money. Pizzolattos first major gig in television writing came in 2011, as a screenwriter for AMCs series The Killing and he credits the show with giving him a glimpse of the inner workings of the television industry. Pizzolatto grew increasingly dissatisfied with the creative direction, and left two weeks into staff writing sessions for its second season. True Detective was intended to be a novel, but once the project took form, Pizzolatto thought the narratives shifts in time. The writer pitched an adaptation of Galveston to two executives, and from May to July 2010 he developed six screenplays, including an early, Pizzolatto secured a development deal with HBO for a potential pilot series shortly thereafter. By April 2012, following a heated bidding period, HBO commissioned eight episodes of True Detective, Pizzolatto did not hire a writing staff because he believed a collaborative approach would not work with his isolated, novelistic process, and that a group would not achieve his desired result. After working alone for three months, the final copy of the project script was 500 pages long. Because the series is an anthology, each possesses a self-contained narrative. Pizzolatto began contemplating the lead roles while he was pitching the series to networks in early 2012, Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey were among the actors Pizzolatto considered for star billing. McConaughey, who had finished filming Killer Joe, was contracted well before HBO commissioned the season. Impressed with his performance in The Lincoln Lawyer, Pizzolatto at first assigned him to play Hart, when asked in a Variety interview about his decision to switch parts, the actor replied, I wanted to get in that dudes head
21.
HBO
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Home Box Office is an American premium cable and satellite television network that is owned by Time Warner through its respective flagship company Home Box Office, Inc. HBO is the oldest and longest continuously operating pay television service in the United States, in 2014, HBO had an adjusted operating income of US$1.79 billion, compared to the US$1.68 billion it accrued in 2013. HBO has 49 million subscribers in the United States and 130 million worldwide as of 2016, the network provides seven 24-hour multiplex channels, including HBO Comedy, HBO Latino, HBO Signature and HBO Family. It launched the streaming service HBO Now in April 2015, and has over 2 million subscribers in the United States as of February 2017. In addition to its U. S. subscriber base, HBO distributes content in at least 151 countries, HBO subscribers generally pay for an extra tier of service that includes other cable- and satellite-exclusive channels even before paying for the channel itself. Cable providers can require the use of a converter box – usually digital – in order to receive HBO, many HBO programs have been syndicated to other networks and broadcast television stations, and a number of HBO-produced series and films have been released on DVD. The new system, which Dolan named Sterling Information Services, became the first urban underground cable system in the United States. In that same year, Time-Life, Inc. purchased a 20% stake in Dolans company, in the summer of 1971, while on a family vacation in France, Charles Dolan began to think of ideas to make Sterling Manhattan profitable. He came up with the concept for a television service. Dolan later presented his idea to Time-Life management, though satellite distribution seemed only a distant possibility at the time, he persuaded Time-Life to back him on the project. To gauge whether consumers would be interested in subscribing to a pay television service, in a meeting of Dolan and some Time-Life executives who were working on the project, various other names were discussed for the new service. Home Box Office launched on November 8,1972, however, HBOs launch came without fanfare in the press, as it was not covered by any local or national media outlets. Home Box Office distributed its first sports event immediately after the film, Four months later in February 1973, Home Box Office aired its first television special, the Pennsylvania Polka Festival. Home Box Office would use a network of relay towers to distribute its programming to cable systems throughout its service area. Sterling Manhattan Cable continued to lose money because the company had only a small base of 20,000 customers in Manhattan. Time-Life dropped the Sterling name and the company was renamed Manhattan Cable Television under Time-Lifes control in March 1973, Gerald Levin, who had been with Home Box Office since it began operations as its vice president of programming, replaced Dolan as the companys president and chief executive officer. In September 1973, Time-Life, Inc. completed its acquisition of the pay service. HBO would eventually increase its fortunes within two years, by April 1975, the service had around 100,000 subscribers in Pennsylvania and New York state, in 1974, they settled on using a geostationary communications satellite to transmit HBO to cable providers throughout the United States
22.
Matthew McConaughey
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Matthew David McConaughey is an American actor. He first gained notice for his role in the coming-of-age comedy Dazed and Confused. Matthew McConaughey, the youngest of three boys, was born on November 4,1969 in Uvalde, Texas and his mother, Mary Kathleen Kay or KMac, is a former kindergarten teacher and a published author. She was originally from Trenton, New Jersey and his father, James Donald McConaughey, was from Louisiana and ran an oil pipe supply business. He played for the Kentucky Wildcats and the Houston Cougars college football teams, in 1953, Jim McConaughey was drafted in the 27th round by the NFL football team the Green Bay Packers. He was released before the season began and never played a league game in the NFL. Matthews mother and late father married each other three times and his ancestry includes Scottish, English, Irish, Swedish and German. He is a relative of Confederate brigadier general Dandridge McRae, McConaughey moved to Longview, Texas in 1980, where he attended Longview High School. He lived for a year in Warnervale, New South Wales, Australia and he attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he joined Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He began in the fall of 1989 and graduated in the spring of 1993 with a degree in Radio-Television-Film. His original plan had changed as he wanted to attend Southern Methodist University until a brother told him that private school tuition would have been a burden on the family finances. He also had planned to attend law school graduation from college. McConaughey began working in commercials, including one for the Austin, Texas daily newspaper, the Austin American-Statesman. The line, How else am I gonna keep up with my Horns, – a reference to his beloved Texas Longhorns sports teams – gave the local community a look at the young actor, before he was cast in Richard Linklaters film Dazed and Confused. In 1992, he was cast as Joe in Trisha Yearwoods video for her hit song Walkaway Joe, in the late 1990s, McConaughey was cast in leading roles in more movies, including Contact, Amistad, The Newton Boys, EDtv and U-571. By the early 2000s, he was frequently cast in comedies, including The Wedding Planner and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. McConaughey starred in the 2005 feature film Sahara, along with Steve Zahn, prior to the release of the film, he promoted it by sailing down the Amazon River and trekking to Mali. That same year, McConaughey was named People magazines Sexiest Man Alive for 2005, in 2006, he co-starred with Sarah Jessica Parker in the romantic comedy Failure to Launch and as Marshall head football coach Jack Lengyal in We Are Marshall
23.
Lebanon, Ohio
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Lebanon is a city in and the county seat of Warren County, Ohio, United States, in the states southwestern region, within the Cincinnati metropolitan area. The population was 20,033 at the 2010 census, Lebanon is widely known as a tourist destination, with its many points of interest, historic landmarks, regional festivals and downtown shopping. The city also has an orchestra and chorus. Lebanon is in the Symmes Purchase, the site of his cabin is now on the grounds of Berry Intermediate School on North Broadway and is marked with a monument erected by the Warren County Historical Society. Lebanon was named after the Biblical Lebanon because of the many juniper or Eastern Redcedar trees there and it is known today as The Cedar City. City legend has it that Lebanon didnt grow as large as Cincinnati or Dayton because of the The Shaker Curse, during their migration, the Shakers decided an area outside of town was a suitable place for them to create a homeland for themselves. There was a disagreement with some of the locals and it was said the Shakers placed a curse on the city to hinder the citys prosperity, in reality, the Shakers thrived in the area, and built a settlement about 4 miles west of Lebanon called Union Village. A local man, Malchalm Worley was their first convert, since the Shakers did not engage in procreation, they relied on converts to increase their numbers. By 1900, there were almost no Shakers left in Ohio, according to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.97 square miles, of which 12.96 square miles is land and 0.01 square miles is water. The population density was 1,545.8 inhabitants per square mile, there were 7,920 housing units at an average density of 611.1 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 92. 7% White,2. 6% African American,0. 2% Native American,0. 8% Asian,1. 6% from other races, hispanic or Latino of any race were 3. 5% of the population. 24. 4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7. 9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older, the average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.12. The median age in the city was 34.7 years. 29. 2% of residents were under the age of 18,7. 3% were between the ages of 18 and 24,29. 5% were from 25 to 44,23. 9% were from 45 to 64, and 10. 1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49. 0% male and 51. 0% female, as of the census of 2000, there were 16,962 people residing in the city. The population density was 1,440.6 people per square mile, there were 6,218 housing units at an average density of 528.1 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 90. 98% White,6. 36% African American,0. 32% Native American,0. 64% Asian,0. 02% Pacific Islander,0. 37% from other races, and 1. 31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1. 13% of the population,24. 3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8. 6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older
24.
Woodcarver
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The phrase may also refer to the finished product, from individual sculptures to hand-worked mouldings composing part of a tracery. It therefore forms an important hidden element in the art history of many cultures, outdoor wood sculptures do not last long in most parts of the world, so it is still unknown how the totem pole tradition developed. Many of the most important sculptures of China and Japan in particular are in wood, and so are the majority of African sculpture. Wood is light and can take very fine detail so it is suitable for masks. It is also easier to work on than stone. Some of the finest extant examples of early European wood carving are from the Middle Ages in Germany, Russia, Italy and France, in England, many complete examples remain from the 16th and 17th century, where oak was the preferred medium. The gouge, a tool with a cutting edge used in a variety of forms and sizes for carving hollows, rounds. The coping saw, a saw that is used to cut off chunks of wood at once. The chisel, large and small, whose straight cutting edge is used for lines, the V-tool, used for parting, and in certain classes of flat work for emphasizing lines. The U-Gauge, a deep gouge with a U-shaped cutting edge. Sharpening equipment, such as stones and a strop, necessary for maintaining edges. The nature of the wood being carved limits the scope of the carver in wood is not equally strong in all directions. The direction in which wood is strongest is called grain and it is smart to arrange the more delicate parts of a design along the grain instead of across it. Less commonly, this principle is used in solid pieces of wood. Probably the two most common used for carving in North America are basswood and tupelo, both are hardwoods that are relatively easy to work with. Chestnut, butternut, oak, American walnut, mahogany and teak are also very good woods, while for fine work Italian walnut, sycamore maple, apple, pear, box or plum, are usually chosen. Decoration that is to be painted and of not too delicate a nature is often carved in pine, the type of wood is important. Hardwoods are more difficult to shape but have greater luster and longevity, softer woods may be easier to carve but are more prone to damage
25.
Kings Island
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Kings Island is a 364-acre amusement park located 24 miles northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio. After more than $275 million in investments, the park features over 80 rides, shows and attractions including fourteen roller coasters. Throughout its history, Kings Island has appeared in sitcoms and has received widespread recognition for its record-breaking attractions. One of the parks most well-known attractions, The Racer, is credited with reviving worldwide interest in roller coasters during the 1970s. Others, such as The Beast and Banshee, have set world records including some of which are still standing. The park has suffered through times of negative publicity, particularly surrounding the early demise of roller coasters The Bat. Kings Island is divided into themed sections. The seasonal amusement park is open from spring through Labor Day in September. In 2015, Kings Island was the second-most visited seasonal amusement park in the United States behind Cedar Point and it was third overall for seasonal attendance in North America, which was led by Canadas Wonderland. Kings Island has won Amusement Todays Golden Ticket Award for having the Best Kids Area in the world for fifteen consecutive years, although occasional flooding was common at the successful park, the flood in 1964 was the fourth highest on record and caused considerable damage. Faced with already-limited space for expansion and parking, the event triggered discussions within the organization about relocating the park, leading the way was Gary Wachs, son of Coney Island president Ralph Wachs, who with friends and family owned a majority of stock. He decided it was time to relocate the park to stay competitive, after years of research and traveling abroad, he presented ideas for a new theme park to the companys board of directors. Some board members opposed relocating, including significant stockholder Charles Sawyer, the announcement highlighted the need for change and gave Wachs proposal credibility within the organization. Gary met with the president of Taft Broadcasting Company, an interested in promoting its recently acquired Hanna-Barbera division. After receiving support, Fess Parkers efforts to secure financing fell apart along with his plans to build a theme park. In July 1969, Taft Broadcasting Company purchased Coney Island for $6.5 million and soon after purchased 1,600 acres in Warren County, Ohio, Kings Island still owns 773 acres of that purchase. The site is located between I-71 and the Little Miami River in what was then a part of Deerfield Township, construction began on June 15,1970. Later that year, a public contest was held to name the new park, Kings Island emerged the most popular for its recognition of the Kings Mills area as well as its predecessor Coney Island
26.
Hanover, Indiana
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Hanover is a town in Hanover Township, Jefferson County, Indiana, along the Ohio River. The population was 3,546 at the 2010 census, Hanover is the home of Hanover College, a small Presbyterian liberal arts college. Hanover is also the home of Southwestern High School, the Point, located on the campus of Hanover College, is the only place along the Ohio River that three bends can be viewed in the river. At that time, there were few European settlements on the bank of the Ohio River. Kentucky, on the banks of the Ohio, originally included as a part of Virginia. It is likely that prior to the early nineteenth-century European settlement of the Hanover area, captain George Logan grew up in a farming household in the area of Lexington, Kentucky. In the late winter of 1801, young Logan loaded a barge with produce and embarked on a journey westward on the Ohio River, at the time, he later noted, there were no European settlements in the area between present-day Carrollton, Kentucky and Louisville. According to Logan, both banks of the river were covered in thick forest and he also reported seeing Native American hunters and fishermen, a large number of buffalo and deer, and heard the cries of coyotes. Faced with heavy winds and harsh weather towards the end of February and he stopped his barge roughly a half mile west of the present-day area of Hanover Beach. After waiting for several days, he grew bored and decided to head ashore. Present-day Hanover is located on a hill overlooking the valley below. Armed with a rifle, Logan decided to explore and he climbed this hill to the today known as Logans Point. This was the first recorded instance of a European exploring the area of Hanover, Logan was so enamored with the view from atop Logans Point that he resolved he would some day move there. He carved his initials on a tree along with the date. It would be fourteen years before he would return to settle permanently. Judge Williamson Dunn, from Mercer County, Kentucky, purchased the area of modern Hanover from the federal government on November 28,1808. The following year, Dunn resettled his family to the area, and they became the first residents of a town called Dunns Settlement. A steady flow of settlers followed, most of whom were Scotch-Irish Presbyterians
27.
Sigma Chi
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Sigma Chi is a social fraternity in North America. The fraternity has 244 active chapters across the United States and Canada and has initiated more than 300,000 members, the fraternity was founded on June 28,1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio by members who split from the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. Sigma Chi is divided into five entities, the Sigma Chi Fraternity, the Sigma Chi Foundation. Like all fraternities, Sigma Chi has its own colors, insignia, according to the fraternitys constitution, the purpose of this fraternity shall be to cultivate and maintain the high ideals of friendship, justice, and learning upon which Sigma Chi was founded. Sigma Chi was founded in 1855 by Benjamin Piatt Runkle, Thomas Cowan Bell, William Lewis Lockwood, several members of Miami Universitys Delta Kappa Epsilon chapter were also members of the Erodelphian Literary Society. In the fall of 1854 the literary society was to elect its Poet and he was supported by five of his brothers, but four others supported another man who was not a member of the fraternity. Although Thomas Bell and Daniel Cooper were not members of Erodelphian they had aligned themselves with the four dissenting members, the chapter had twelve members total and were evenly divided on the issue. Both sides saw this as a matter of principle and over the few months their friendships became distanced. In February 1855 Runkle and his companions planned a dinner for their brothers in an attempt to seal the rift, whitelaw Reid, one of the other brothers who supported the Delta Kappa Epsilon member as poet, was the only one to arrive. Reid brought a Delta Kappa Epsilon alumnus named Minor Millikin from a nearby town, Reid had told Millikin his side of the dispute and they had arrived to punish the group for not supporting their Delta Kappa Epsilon brother. The leaders of the rebellion, Runkle and Scobey, were to be expelled from the fraternity, the other four would be allowed to stay in the fraternity. Runkle resigned, and after the parent chapter at Yale University was contacted, the six men decided to form their own fraternity along with William Lewis Lockwood, a student from New York who had not joined a fraternity. On June 28,1855, the organization was founded under the name Sigma Phi Fraternity, Lockwood used his business training to help organize the fraternity in its early years. The eventual theft of Sigma Phis constitution, rituals, seals and it is possible this action could have been forced upon the group as there was already a Sigma Phi Society. Much of Sigma Chis heraldry was inspired by the story of the Emperor Constantine from the Battle of Milvian Bridge against Maxentius. The White Cross and the motto In Hoc Signo Vinces are examples of the Constantine link, although many of the symbols of Sigma Chi relate to Christianity, Sigma Chi is not a Christian fraternity. Benjamin Piatt Runkle was born in West Liberty, Ohio, Runkle helped design the badge of Sigma Chi based on the story of Constantine and the vision of the Cross. Runkle was known for having a fierce pride and was suspended from Miami University when he fought a member of Beta Theta Pi for sneering at his badge, when the Civil War began Runkle joined the Union Army
28.
Bachelor of Arts
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A Bachelor of Arts is a bachelors degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both. Bachelor of Arts degree programs take three to four years depending on the country, academic institution, and specific specializations, majors or minors. The word baccalaureus or baccalarium should not be confused with baccalaureatus, degree diplomas generally are printed on high-quality paper or parchment, individual institutions set the preferred abbreviation for their degrees. In Pakistan, the Bachelor of Arts degree can also be attained within two years as an external degree, in colleges and universities in Australia, New Zealand, Nepal and South Africa, the BA degree can be taken over three years of full-time study. Unlike in other countries, students do not receive a grade for their Bachelor of Arts degree with varying levels of honours. Qualified students may be admitted, after they have achieved their Bachelors program with an overall grade point average. Thus, to achieve a Bachelor Honours degree, a postgraduate year. A student who holds a Honours degree is eligible for entry to either a Doctorate or a very high research Master´s degree program. Education in Canada is controlled by the Provinces and can be different depending on the province in Canada. Canadian universities typically offer a 3-year Bachelor of Arts degrees, in many universities and colleges, Bachelor of Arts degrees are differentiated either as Bachelors of Arts or as honours Bachelor of Arts degree. The honours degrees are designated with the abbreviation in brackets of. It should not be confused with the consecutive Bachelor of Arts degree with Honours, Latin Baccalaureatus in Artibus Cum Honore, BA hon. de jure without brackets and with a dot. It is a degree, which is considered to be the equivalent of a corresponding maîtrise degree under the French influenced system. Going back in history, a three-year Bachelor of Arts degree was called a pass degree or general degree. Students may be required to undertake a long high-quality research empirical thesis combined with a selection of courses from the relevant field of studies. The consecutive B. cum Honore degree is essential if students ultimate goal is to study towards a two- or three-year very high research masters´ degree qualification. A student holding a Baccalaureatus Cum Honore degree also may choose to complete a Doctor of Philosophy program without the requirement to first complete a masters degree, over the years, in some universities certain Baccalaureatus cum Honore programs have been changed to corresponding master´s degrees. In general, in all four countries, the B. A. degree is the standard required for entry into a masters programme, in science, a BA hons degree is generally a prerequisite for entrance to a Ph. D program or a very-high-research-activity master´s programme
29.
Playboy
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Playboy is an American mens lifestyle and entertainment magazine. It was founded in Chicago in 1953, by Hugh Hefner and his associates, with a presence in nearly every medium. In addition to the magazine in the United States, special nation-specific versions of Playboy are published worldwide. The magazine has a history of publishing short stories by notable novelists such as Arthur C. Clarke, Ian Fleming, Vladimir Nabokov, Saul Bellow, Chuck Palahniuk, P. G. Wodehouse, Haruki Murakami, the magazine generally reflects a liberal editorial stance, although it often interviews conservative celebrities. After a year-long removal of most nude photos in Playboy magazine and he formed HMH Publishing Corporation, and recruited his friend Eldon Sellers to find investors. Hefner eventually raised just over $8,000, including from his brother and mother. However, the publisher of a mens adventure magazine, Stag, contacted Hefner. Hefner, his wife Millie, and Sellers met to seek a new name, considering Top Hat, Gentleman, Sir, Satyr, Pan, the first issue, in December 1953, was undated, as Hefner was unsure there would be a second. He produced it in his Hyde Park kitchen, the first centerfold was Marilyn Monroe, although the picture used originally was taken for a calendar rather than for Playboy. Hefner chose what he deemed the sexiest image, a previously unused nude study of Marilyn stretched with an arm on a red velvet background with closed eyes. The heavy promotion centered around Marilyns nudity on the calendar, together with the teasers in marketing. The first issue sold out in weeks, copies of the first issue in mint to near mint condition sold for over $5,000 in 2002. The novel Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, was serialized in the March, April, an urban legend started about Hefner and the Playmate of the Month because of markings on the front covers of the magazine. From 1955 to 1979, the P in Playboy had stars printed in or around the letter. The legend stated that this was either a rating that Hefner gave to the Playmate according to how attractive she was, the stars, between zero and 12, actually indicated the domestic or international advertising region for that printing. From 1966 to 1976, Robie Macauley was the Fiction Editor at Playboy, P. Donleavy, as well as poetry by Yevgeny Yevtushenko. Macauley also contributed all of the popular Ribald Classics series published between January 1978 and March 1984, christie Hefner, daughter of the founder Hugh Hefner, joined Playboy in 1975 and became head of the company in 1988
30.
Hitman
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Contract killing is a form of murder in which one party hires another party to kill a target individual or group of people. It involves an agreement between two or more parties in which one party agrees to kill the target in exchange for some form of payment. Either party may be a person, group, or an organization, contract killing has been associated with organized crime, government conspiracies and with vendettas. For example, in the United States, the gang Murder, contract killing provides the hiring party with the advantage of not having to commit the actual killing, making it more difficult for law enforcement to connect said party with the murder. In the United States, the United Kingdom, and many other countries, any contract to commit an indictable offense is not enforceable under contract law. Thus, if a hitman takes the money but then fails or refuses to perform, conversely, if the hitman performs the killing as promised but the customer refuses to pay, the hitman cannot sue the customer for monetary damages. Furthermore, both the killer and the person who paid the killer can be found guilty of murder. In some U. S. jurisdictions with capital punishment, a contract killing may be a special circumstance that allows for the contractor as well as the killer to receive the death penalty, criminal code statutes prohibiting solicitation of murder are also intended to curb contract killings. The study also found that the payment for a hit was $15,000 with variation from $5,000 up to $30,000. Contract killings accounted for 2% of murders in Australia during that time period, contract killings also make up a relatively similar percentage of all killings elsewhere. For example, they made up about 5% of all murders in Scotland from 1993 to 2002, Siegel was also the Italian mobs main hitman during Prohibition. Vincent Coll, an Irish-American hitman who worked for Dutch Schultz, li Fuguo, a Tang Dynasty Eunuch killed by a hitman hired by Emperor Tang Daizong. Shiori Ino, a 21-year-old University student killed by hitman Yoshifumi Kubota and he was paid by her ex-boyfriend and his brother, the case gained some notoriety in Japan. Grady Stiles, freak show performer whose family hired a hitman to kill him because of his abusiveness, Harry Greenberg, a Mafia associate of Charles Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky, and Siegel. He was killed by Siegel, Whitey Krakower, Albert Tannenbaum, Joe Masseria, was a Mafia boss that was murdered by Siegel, Vito Genovese, and Lepke Buchalter in 1931. Salvatore Maranzano, was a Castellammarese Mafia boss and rival to Masseria in the Castellammarese War and was killed by Siegel, benjamin Siegel, Las Vegas mob boss and Flamingo Hotel owner, killed by unknown assailants in 1947. Nicole Doucet Ryan attempted to hire an undercover Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer to kill her husband, after ruling she could not use the defense of duress, the Supreme Court of Canada ordered she not be retried. Tim Lambesis, former vocalist of metal bands As I Lay Dying, Austrian Death Machine and Pyrithion
31.
Life sentence
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Life imprisonment is any sentence of imprisonment for a crime under which convicted persons are to remain in prison for the rest of their lives or until paroled. Life imprisonment can, in cases, also be imposed for traffic offenses causing death. Canada and some U. S. states allow judges to impose life imprisonment for such offenses and this sentence does not exist in all countries. Portugal was the first country in the world to life imprisonment by the prison reforms of Sampaio e Melo in 1884. However, where life imprisonment is a sentence, there may also be formal mechanisms to request parole after a certain period of imprisonment. This means that a convict could be entitled to spend the rest of the sentence outside prison, early release is usually conditional depending on past and future conduct, possibly with certain restrictions or obligations. In contrast, when a term of imprisonment has ended. The United States leads in life sentences, at a rate of 50 people per 100,000 residents imprisoned for life, the length of time and the conditions surrounding parole vary greatly for each jurisdiction. In some places, convicts are entitled to apply for parole relatively early, in others, however, the time until being entitled to apply for parole does not necessarily tell anything about the actual date of parole being granted. The highest determined prison sentence that can be imposed in the ICC, after this period, the court will review the sentence to determine whether or not it should be reduced. Some technically finite sentences are handed out, especially in the U. S. that exceed the maximum life span and are therefore seen as de facto life sentences. He committed suicide in his cell one month later. Courts in South Africa have handed out at least two sentences that have exceeded a century and were thus symbolic life sentences, unlike other areas of criminal law, sentences handed to minors do not differ from those given to legal adults. A few countries worldwide allow for minors to be given sentences that have no provision for eventual release. Of these, only the United States currently has minors serving such sentences, as of 2009, Human Rights Watch had calculated that there were 2,589 youth offenders serving life without parole in the United States. Graham v. Florida was a significant case in juvenile justice, in Jacksonville, Florida, Terrence J. Graham tried to rob a restaurant along with three adolescent accomplices. During the robbery one of Grahams accomplices had a bar that he used to hit the restaurant manager twice in the head. Once arrested, Graham was charged with attempted armed robbery and armed burglary with assault/battery, the maximum sentence he faced from these charges was life without the possibility of parole, and the prosecutor wanted to charge him as an adult
32.
San Antonio, Texas
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San Antonio, officially the City of San Antonio, is the seventh-most populated city in the United States and the second-most populous city in the state of Texas, with a population of 1,409,019. It was the fastest growing of the top 10 largest cities in the United States from 2000 to 2010, the city straddles South Texas and Central Texas and is on the southwestern corner of an urban megaregion known as the Texas Triangle. San Antonio serves as the seat of Bexar County, recent annexations have extended the citys boundaries into Medina County and, though for only a very tiny area near the city of Garden Ridge, into Comal County. Due to its placement, the city has characteristics of other urban centers in which there are sparsely populated areas. San Antonio is the center of the San Antonio–New Braunfels Metropolitan Statistical Area, growth along the Interstate 35 and Interstate 10 corridors to the north, west and east make it likely that the metropolitan area will continue to expand. San Antonio was named for Saint Anthony of Padua, whose feast day is on June 13, the city contains five 18th-century Spanish frontier missions, including The Alamo and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, which were designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2015. Other notable attractions include the River Walk, the Tower of the Americas, the Alamo Bowl, the city is home to the five-time NBA champion San Antonio Spurs and hosts the annual San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, one of the largest such events in the country. The U. S. Kelly Air Force Base operated out of San Antonio until 2001, the remaining portions of the base were developed as Port San Antonio, an industrial/business park and aerospace complex. San Antonio is home to six Fortune 500 companies and the South Texas Medical Center, at the time of European encounter, Payaya Indians lived near the San Antonio River Valley in the San Pedro Springs area, calling the vicinity Yanaguana, meaning refreshing waters. In 1691, a group of Spanish Catholic explorers and missionaries came upon the river and Payaya settlement on June 13 and they named the place and river San Antonio in his honor. It was years before any Spanish settlement took place, father Antonio de Olivares visited the site in 1709, and he was determined to found a mission and civilian settlement there. He directed Martin de Alarcón, the governor of Coahuila and Texas, differences between Alarcón and Olivares resulted in delays, and construction did not start until 1718. The families who clustered around the presidio and mission formed the beginnings of Villa de Béjar, on May 1, the governor transferred ownership of the Mission San Antonio de Valero to Fray Antonio de Olivares. On May 5,1718 he commissioned the Presidio San Antonio de Béxar on the west side of the San Antonio River, one-fourth league from the mission. On February 14,1719, the Marquis of San Miguel de Aguayo proposed to the king of Spain that 400 families be transported from the Canary Islands, Galicia, or Havana to populate the province of Texas. By June 1730,25 families had reached Cuba, and 10 families had sent to Veracruz before orders from Spain came to stop the re-settlement. Under the leadership of Juan Leal Goraz, the group marched overland from Veracruz to the Presidio San Antonio de Béxar, due to marriages along the way, the party now included 15 families, a total of 56 persons. They joined the community established in 1718
33.
Coach Ernie Pantusso
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Ernie Pantusso, commonly known as Coach, is a fictional character on the American television show Cheers, portrayed by Nicholas Colasanto between 1982 and 1985. Coach was originally Sam Malones baseball coach before the shows premiere, then, he later became a bartender of Cheers while Sam became its owner and another bartender. He is not worldly wise but has some shred of wit and he also has a daughter named Lisa, who solely appeared in Coachs Daughter, from his late wife Angela. While he technically last appeared in the opening of Rescue Me, Colasantos last filmed appearance as Coach was an episode Cheerio. When Colasanto died in 1985, Coach was written out as deceased without explanation, since then, Colasantos replacement Woody Harrelson joined the cast as Woody Boyd in the fourth season of Cheers. Former umpire Ron Luciano auditioned for Coach Ernie Pantusso, but he failed to get the part because producers wanted an experienced actor. Robert Prosky, who appeared in the eleventh-season episode Daddys Little Middle-Aged Girl as the character Rebecca Howes Navy father, was offered the role of Coach. Therefore, the role was given to Nicholas Colasanto, according to Colasanto, Coach was nearly child-like and more of a surrogate son than a surrogate father to Sam Malone, while Sam was more of a father to Coach for dependency on Sams moral support. Moreover, Coach was beloved by everyone and a good lovable man, according to director and producer James Burrows, the character of Coach was much different from the actor Nick, Coach was slow, while Nick was sharp. Coach is a component of many people, is not a worldly man not well-read. He may be intelligent, but hes not worldly wise, hes so positive, thats what makes him funny. Hell say the most absurd thing, but, if someone corrects him, Ernie Coach Pantusso is a slow, forgetful bartender with a gravel voice, caring personality, shred of intelligence, and warm heart. The Coach doesnt have any worldly ambitions—hes very happy to make his paycheck, moreover, he listens to people and their problems very well. Ernie was nicknamed Coach because he was the coach of the Boston Red Sox and other teams. When Sam succumbed to alcoholism, leading to the end of his career, Sam bought the bar Cheers. He is still nicknamed Coach by everyone, although he has retired from coaching for years. As a young man, Ernie attended Catholic School, but dropped out of high school and he has a sister and two brothers, the younger brother has a daughter Joyce, who appears in only The Godfather, Part III. Coach is a widower since his wife Angela died before the show debuted and they have a daughter, Lisa, who only appears in Coachs Daughter
34.
Nicholas Colasanto
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Nicholas Colasanto was an American actor and television director, known for his role as Coach Ernie Pantusso in the American sitcom Cheers. He served in the United States Navy during World War II and he attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in the 1950s. He was diagnosed with heart disease in the mid-1970s, by 1984 his worsening symptoms forced him to stop working on Cheers, and he filmed his last full episode in November 1984. He died of an attack at his home on February 12,1985. Colasanto attended Bryant University and was a veteran of World War II. Around 1954 he was supposed to be an accountant for a company in Saudi Arabia, Colasanto appeared in feature films, including The Counterfeit Killer, Fat City, and Alfred Hitchcocks Family Plot. An in-demand actor and director, he had been diagnosed in the mid-1970s with heart disease, after twenty years of alcoholism, he became an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous from March 31,1976, and became sober in the same year. He began having trouble securing directing jobs by the end of the 1970s due to his declining health and his last major film role was a mob boss, Tommy Como in Raging Bull. Colasanto was prepared to retire when the role of Coach Ernie Pantusso was offered to him on Cheers, Coach would become Colasantos best known role. Suffering from heart disease, his health worsened by the season of Cheers. Castmates noticed his weight loss, though the actor chose to keep the severity of his illness a secret, shortly after the Christmas holiday in 1984, he was admitted to a local hospital due to water in his lungs. Co-star Ted Danson later commented that the actor had difficulty remembering his lines during production of the season. When Colasanto was released on the week of January 28 – February 3,1985, from the hospital after a two-week stay, his doctor recommended that he not return to work. Although he appeared in the opening of the third-season finale episode, Rescue Me, his last full episode was Cheerio Cheers. Colasanto died of an attack at his home on February 12,1985. On February 16,1985, more than three hundred people attended his funeral, including John Ratzenberger, the only cast member of Cheers to do so. NBC would not allow the entire cast to take a break from filming to fly to Providence, Ratzenberger, a New England native, was sent as a representative for the cast. The cast and crew held a memorial for Colasanto on the set in Los Angeles, Colasanto is buried in Saint Anns Cemetery in Cranston, Rhode Island
35.
Frasier
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Frasier is an American sitcom that was broadcast on NBC for eleven seasons, premiering on September 16,1993, and concluding on May 13,2004. The program was created and produced by David Angell, Peter Casey, the series was created as a spin-off of Cheers, continuing the story of psychiatrist Frasier Crane as he returned to his hometown of Seattle and started building a new life. Frasier stars Kelsey Grammer, David Hyde Pierce, John Mahoney, Jane Leeves, Peri Gilpin, psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane returns to his home town of Seattle, Washington, following the end of his marriage and his life in Boston. Frasier hires Daphne Moon as Martins live-in physical therapist and care giver, Frasier frequently spends time with his younger brother Niles, a fellow psychiatrist. Niles becomes obsessed with, and eventually falls in love with, Daphne, Frasier hosts The Dr. Frasier Crane Show, a call-in psychiatry show on talk radio station KACL. His producer Roz Doyle is very different from Frasier in many ways and she is down-to-earth, has basic tastes and, at least early in the series, has superficial relationships with many men. However, Roz and Frasier share a professional respect and over time they become best friends, Frasier and the others often visit the local coffee shop, Café Nervosa. The Crane sons, who possess fine tastes, intellectual interests, the brothers close relationship is often tense, and their sibling rivalry intermittently results in chaos. Niles Crane, Frasiers younger brother, also a psychiatrist, who works in private practice, Martin Crane, Frasier and Niless father, a police officer who was forced to retire by a gunshot wound to his hip that led to his living with Frasier. Daphne Moon, an English physiotherapist, hired by Frasier to help take care of Martin, Roz Doyle, the producer of Frasiers radio show, who becomes a close family friend. Eddie, Martin Cranes Jack Russell terrier, Bob Bulldog Briscoe, the male chauvinist, horny, boastful host of a sports radio talk show that followed Frasiers daily broadcast at KACL. He became a regular cast member for Seasons 4 through 6, noel Shempsky, KACL technical assistant and avid Star Trek aficionado who speaks Klingon, in love with Roz. Gil Chesterton, KACLs flamboyant, effeminate restaurant critic. Bebe Glazer, Frasiers manipulative, amoral agent, who is loathed by Frasiers family, the main cast remained unchanged for all 11 years. Grammer was briefly the highest paid actor in the United States for his portrayal of Frasier. Grammer had been the voice of Sideshow Bob on The Simpsons since 1990, in a 1997 episode, the characters brother, Cecil Terwilliger, was introduced, played by Pierce, as referenced in the episode title, Brother from Another Series. The episode contained numerous Frasier references, Pierce returned as Cecil for the second time alongside Grammer in the 2007 episode Funeral for a Fiend. The episode introduced the brothers father, Dr. Robert Terwilliger, cast member reunions also occurred on four episodes of Hot in Cleveland, which featured Leeves in the main cast along with Wendie Malick. In the Season 2 episode Unseparated at Birth and Season 3 episode Funeral Crashers, Gilpin appears in the episode I Love Lucci, and Tom McGowan appears in Love Thy Neighbor as a casting director
36.
Will & Grace
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Will & Grace is an American sitcom created by Max Mutchnick and David Kohan about the relationship between best friends Will Truman, a gay lawyer, and Grace Adler, a straight interior designer. It was broadcast on NBC from September 21,1998 to May 18,2006, during its original run, Will & Grace was one of the most successful television series with gay principal characters. Despite initial criticism for its portrayal of homosexual characters, it went on to become a staple of NBCs Must See TV Thursday night lineup and was met with continued critical acclaim. It was ensconced in the Nielsen top 20 for half of its network run, the show was the highest-rated sitcom among adults 18–49, from 2001 and 2005. Throughout its eight-year run, Will & Grace earned 16 Emmy Awards and 83 nominations, all four stars each received an Emmy Award throughout the series, making it one of only three sitcoms in the awards history to achieve this feat. In 2014 the Writers Guild of America placed the sitcom at number 94 in their list of the 101 Best Written TV series of all time. Since the final episode aired, the sitcom has been credited with helping and improving public opinion of the LGBT community, vice President Joe Biden commenting that the show probably did more to educate the American public on LGBT issues than almost anything anybody has ever done so far. In 2014 the Smithsonian Institution added an LGBT history collection to their museum which included items from Will, the curator Dwight Blocker Bowers stated that the sitcom used comedy to familiarize a mainstream audience with gay culture that was daring and broke ground in American media. When the set was removed in April 2014, rumours came up about a cast reunion and it was merely moved to Emersons new center in Los Angeles. A long-running legal battle between both the executive producers and creators and NBC took place between 2003 and 2007. All seasons of the series have released on DVD and the show has been broadcast in more than 60 countries. On September 26,2016, the cast reunited for a 10-minute special, after the success of the 10-minute reunion special, NBC announced that the network is exploring the idea of putting Will & Grace back into production. In January 2017, NBC confirmed the return, for a ten-episode ninth season. The episode order was increased to 12 on April 5,2017, will & Grace is set in New York City and focuses on the relationship between Will Truman, a gay lawyer, and his best friend Grace Adler, a Jewish woman who owns an interior design firm. Also featured are their friends Karen Walker, a socialite, and Jack McFarland. The interplay of relationships features the trials and tribulations of dating, marriage, divorce and casual sex, as well as comical key stereotypes of gay and he is very precise and obsessive when it comes to certain tasks, especially cleaning, dressing, and decorating. However, Will does have a patient and compassionate nature towards those close to him. Even though Will is gay, he not to be too overt
37.
The Colbert Report
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The show focused on a fictional anchorman character named Stephen Colbert, played by his real-life namesake. The character, described by Colbert as a well-intentioned, poorly informed, furthermore, the show satirized conservative personality-driven political talk programs, particularly Fox Newss The OReilly Factor. The Colbert Report is a spin-off of Comedy Centrals The Daily Show, the program was created by Colbert, Jon Stewart, and Ben Karlin. The shows writing was grounded in improvisation, and often lampooned current events stories, the shows structure also included a guest interview, in which the Colbert character attempts to deconstruct his opponents argument. The show was taped in New York Citys Hells Kitchen neighborhood, the show was taped and broadcast Monday through Thursday, with weeks taken off at multiple points in a given year for breaks. The Colbert Report saw immediate critical and ratings successes, leading to various awards, the shows cultural influence—which occasionally would require a fair degree of participation from the show’s audience, dubbed the Colbert Nation—extended beyond the program a number of times. This impact included the running for U. S. In addition, the show inspired various forms of multimedia, including music, the Colbert Report satirized conservative personality-driven political pundit programs, and focused on a fictional anchorman character named Stephen Colbert, played by his real-life namesake. Colbert joined Comedy Centrals The Daily Show in 1997, a year following its launch, when Jon Stewart became the programs host in 1999, The Daily Show developed a markedly different style, bringing a sharper political focus to the humor than the show previously exhibited. Colbert recalled that Stewart specifically asked him to have a political viewpoint, Colbert became a fixture on The Daily Show, occasionally hosting in Stewarts absence. In 2003, the program began running advertisements for a program titled The Colbert Réport. When fellow Daily Show star Steve Carell left to pursue a film and television career and he pitched The Colbert Report to the channel in 2004. Stewart pushed Comedy Central to pick up the show, and Colbert was given an eight-week tryout, following the shows immediate success, the show quickly became a fixture in the late-night lineup. At its peak, the show averaged 1.5 million viewers each evening, the fictional Colbert anchorman character became gradually toned down over the course of the shows run, as the host believed he would eventually need to move beyond it. He began to regard it as an act of discipline to perform as the character, he remarked, to model behavior. It became very hard to watch punditry of any kind, of whatever political stripe. With his contract set to end in December 2014, he had decided to leave the show when he was contacted by CBS to replace David Letterman as the host of its Late Show franchise. The shows ending was announced concurrently with Colberts jump to CBS in April 2014, the last episode aired on December 18,2014
38.
Stephen Colbert
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Stephen Tyrone Colbert is an American comedian, television host, and author. Colbert has hosted The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, a television talk show on CBS. Colbert originally studied to be an actor, but became interested in improvisational theatre while attending Northwestern University. He wrote and performed on the short-lived Dana Carvey Show before collaborating with Sedaris and he gained considerable attention for his role on the latter as closeted gay history teacher Chuck Noblet. His work as a correspondent on Comedy Centrals news-parody series The Daily Show gained him wide recognition, in 2005, he left The Daily Show to host a spin-off series, The Colbert Report. The series became one of Comedy Centrals highest-rated series, earning Colbert an invitation to perform as featured entertainer at the White House Correspondents Association Dinner in 2006, Colbert has won nine Primetime Emmy Awards, two Grammy Awards, and two Peabody Awards. Colbert was named one of Times 100 Most Influential People in 2006 and 2012 and his book, I Am America, was #1 on The New York Times Best Seller list in 2007. Colbert was born in Washington, D. C. the youngest of 11 children in a Catholic family and he grew up on James Island, South Carolina. Colbert and his siblings, in descending order by age, are James, Edward, Mary, William, Margo, Thomas, Jay, Elizabeth, Paul, Peter, stephens mother, Lorna Elizabeth Colbert, was a homemaker. In interviews, Colbert has described his parents as people who also strongly valued intellectualism and taught their children that it was possible to question the church. The emphasis his family placed on intelligence and his observation of negative stereotypes of Southerners led Colbert to train himself to suppress his Southern accent while he was quite young. While Colbert sometimes comedically claims his surname is French, he is of 15/16ths Irish ancestry, many of his ancestors emigrated from Ireland to North America in the 19th century before and during the Great Famine. He offered his children the option to pronounce the name whichever way they preferred, Stephen started using /koʊlˈbɛər/ later in life when he transferred to Northwestern University, taking advantage of the opportunity to reinvent himself in a new place where no one knew him. Ed responded /ˈkoʊlbərt/, to which Stephen jokingly replied, See you in Hell and they were en route to enroll the two boys at Canterbury School in New Milford, Connecticut. Lorna Colbert relocated the family downtown to the urban environment of East Bay Street in Charleston. Colbert found the transition difficult and did not easily make new friends in his new neighborhood, Colbert later described himself during this time as detached, lacking a sense of importance regarding the things with which other children concerned themselves. He developed a love of science fiction and fantasy novels, especially the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, Colbert attended Charlestons Episcopal Porter-Gaud School, where he participated in several school plays and contributed to the school newspaper but was not highly motivated academically. During his adolescence, he briefly fronted A Shot in the Dark, when he was younger, he had hoped to study marine biology, but surgery intended to repair a severely perforated eardrum caused him inner ear damage
39.
True Detective (TV series)
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True Detective is an American anthology crime drama television series created and written by Nic Pizzolatto. The series, broadcast by the cable network HBO in the United States. Each season of the series is structured as a disparate, self-contained narrative, employing new cast ensembles and following various sets of characters, the first season received generally excellent reviews from critics and earned high ratings for HBO. It was nominated for and won awards and other accolades, chiefly for its acting, cinematography, writing. Reception to the season was more divided, though the show maintained high viewership for HBO. In July 2016, HBO head of programming Casey Bloys confirmed plans for a third season, stating. I talked to Nic about it and both Nic and HBO are open to another season, I dont think Nic has a take and hes working on some other projects. Were open to somebody else writing it and Nic supervising it and its a valuable franchise, its not dead, we just dont have a take for a third season yet. This came shortly after McConaughey said he would hypothetically be interested in reprising his role as Rust Cohle in a third season, in March 2017, it was revealed that Pizzolatto has written the first two episodes of a potential third season and that David Milch joined the creative team. Before developing True Detective, Nic Pizzolatto worked as a professor for the University of Chicago, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also delved into fiction writing, having developed a fascination for it as a student at the University of Arkansas. His first published work was the story collection Between Here. The author published his novel, titled Galveston, four years later. Intended to be Galvestons follow-up, Pizzolatto felt True Detective was more suitable on-screen once the project took definite form. Pizzolatto shopped the novel to two TV executives, and, once he secured a deal in May 2010, drafted six screenplays, including the episode script for True Detective. He devoted another script for the shortly after his departure from The Killings writing staff in 2011. The final copy, amounting to 500 pages, was written without the aid of a writing staff, by this time, Pizzolatto secured a development deal with HBO, and by April 2012, the network commissioned True Detective on an order of eight episodes. Set up as a series, each season will feature a different cast of characters and self-contained narratives in various time periods
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Soccer Aid
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Soccer Aid is a biennial British charity event that has raised over £20 million in aid of UNICEF UK, through ticket sales and donations from the public. The event is a match between two teams of celebrities and former professional players, representing England and the Rest of the World. Soccer Aid was initiated by Robbie Williams and Jonathan Wilkes, television coverage began on ITV on 22 May 2006 in a show presented by Ant & Dec. Dermot OLeary took over as main presenter in 2010. The event returned on 7 September 2008, won by England for a time and again on 6 June 2010. England beat the RoW a third time on 27 May 2012, England won for the fourth time on 5 June 2016. ITV, 22–27 May 200622 May 2006 – Start of the coverage, presented by Ant. The competition was organised on behalf of UNICEF UK, with profits from the matches along with donations and sponsorship donated to UNICEF programs in Africa, Asia, Wilkes won the Man of the Match award. The England squad was managed by former England national football team manager Terry Venables, assisted by David Geddis, the original squad comprised 16 players, with Bryan Robson added later. A handful of the players, notably Angus Deayton, had previous celebrity international experience from the previous months England v Germany, The Legends match in Reading, the England squad went into the match with no major injury worries. Their victory over a squad of ex-England internationals from the 1960s to 1990s on Tuesday morning was tempered with defeats to the Rest of the World in a penalty shootout, captain Gordon Ramsay injured his leg in the early training sessions and was considered doubtful for the match. The original squad of 16 players, which later saw 2 changes, was supplemented by the addition of Diego Maradona during the buildup to the competition, lothar Matthäus had appeared in the England v Germany, The Legends match the previous month. The Rest of the World squad was wracked by injuries and withdrawals, also, Craig Doyle and Brian McFadden went into the match carrying knocks, which led to management members Ruud Gullit and Gus Poyet coming on as substitutes on Wednesday and in the match itself. England v Rest of the World, at 19,30 just before kick-off Jonathan Ansell sang the footballing anthem Nessun Dorma whilst the players were introduced to Sir Geoff Hurst, the England squad was coached by Harry Redknapp, with Bryan Robson as his assistant manager. However, after Collina was injured in the first half he was replaced by Scottish referee Hugh Dallas, the process of two professional referees overseeing one half of the match each has since been maintained in subsequent series. Soccer Aid 2010 was played on 6 June 2010 and it was broadcast in the United Kingdom on ITV and presented by Dermot OLeary. It was broadcast in the United Kingdom on ITV and presented by Dermot OLeary, Cat Deeley presented the backstage build-up show before the main event. The main match was hosted by Dermot OLeary with Kirsty Gallagher, caroline Flack presented from the BT Tower in London. Match commentators were Sam Matterface and Graham Taylor, and Sol Campbell was a studio guest, by full-time, the total raised for UNICEF was £4,233,019
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UNICEF UK
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UNICEF UK, also known as the United Kingdom Committee for UNICEF, is one of 36 UNICEF National Committees based in industrialised countries. The National Committees raise funds for the worldwide emergency and development work. In 2007, UNICEF UK raised £41.3 million for UNICEF’s work with children worldwide, UNICEF UK also advocates for lasting change for children. For example, it works to government policies and practices that are detrimental to children’s rights in the UK. Internationally, UNICEF is the leading children’s organisation, reaching children in more than 150 less-developed countries around the world and it works with local communities, organisations and governments to make a lasting difference to children’s lives. With its worldwide presence, UNICEF can respond rapidly wherever disaster strikes, UNICEF believes that every child should have clean water, food, health care, education, and a safe environment in which to grow up. The organisation upholds the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF is not funded by the UN. Instead, it relies on donations to fund its work for children worldwide. UNICEF UK raises funds for these programmes through donations, the sale of cards and gifts, partnerships with companies, UNICEF UK is a registered charity. UNICEF UK has a history of support from its Ambassadors and high-profile supporters. Ambassadors help the organisation reach an audience, enabling it to highlight work undertaken to improve the lives of the most vulnerable children around the world. All UNICEF Ambassadors have been appointed because they have demonstrated a commitment to the organisation’s work. They dedicate time and energy in a variety of ways, visiting projects in the field and emergency situations, speaking to the media about what they have seen, UNICEF is supported entirely by voluntary contributions and the support from corporate partners makes a significant contribution to its work. Companies that currently have a partnership with UNICEF UK include Barclays, easyJet, Marks & Spencer, IKEA, Manchester United, EE, Pampers. UNICEF was the first charity to produce and sell cards for the purpose of raising funds, the very first UNICEF card was a Christmas card created in 1949. The card was a reproduction of a painting, sent as a thank you to UNICEF in 1947, jitka’s village in Czechoslovakia had received UNICEF emergency assistance after the Second World War. Since 1949, UNICEF has continued to sell cards and gifts in order to raise money for living in poverty around the world. In 2004 UNICEF UK expanded its range of cards and gifts to include a selection of ‘Inspired Gifts’ and these offer an opportunity to give a present which makes a real difference to the lives of children
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