title: Arthur Rimbaud

text: On The Clash's 1982 Album Combat Rock, Beat poet Allen Ginsberg says Rimbaud's name as part of backing poetry recorded with the song "Ghetto Defendant".


title: Arthur Rimbaud

text: Rimbaud thought enough of himself to leave an inscription at the Temple of Luxor in Egypt. It can be found 'carved ... into the ancient stone of the south end's transverse hall'.


title: Shawn Rhoden

text: Shawn Rhoden (April 2, 1975 – November 6, 2021) was a Jamaican-American IFBB professional bodybuilder and past Mr. Olympia. He won the 2018 Mr. Olympia contest by defeating seven-time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath.


title: Shawn Rhoden

text: Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Rhoden migrated to the United States in 1990 and settled in Maryland. He went through a period of alcohol addiction following the death of his father, Lloyd, in 2002 but overcame it with help from his friend Lenore Carroll.


title: Shawn Rhoden

text: An aspiring football player in his early teens, Rhoden started bodybuilding in 1992 with inspiration from a past IFBB Mr. Universe winner, Yohnnie Shambourger. After an amateur career marked by several injuries and alcohol dependence, by 2010 Rhoden won his IFBB Pro card. He was the 11th at the 2011 Mr. Olympia (Mr. Olympia debut), 3rd at the 2012 Mr. Olympia, and 4th at the 2013 Mr. Olympia competition. In 2014, Rhoden was third at the 2014 Mr. Olympia competition and then third again at the 2015 Mr. Olympia. In 2016, he was second. Two years later, he unseated Phil Heath to become the 2018 Mr. Olympia. Rhoden's age at the time, 43 years and 5 months, made him the oldest Mr. Olympia titleholder.


title: Shawn Rhoden

text: In 2015, Shawn Rhoden and then partner Michelle Sugar had a daughter. The couple soon married in 2018. However, due to personal issues and allegations of infidelity, they divorced. Rhoden died from a heart attack on November 6, 2021.


title: Shawn Rhoden

text: Rhoden was accused of sexually assaulting a female protege while he was visiting Salt Lake City, Utah, in October 2018, shortly after his Mr. Olympia win. In July 2019, he was formally charged in the state of Utah with rape, object rape, and sexual abuse. It was alleged that Rhoden invited a married woman who he had been mentoring to his hotel room in Salt Lake, where the reported actions took place. The American Media LLC company, which is the organizing body for the Mr. Olympia contest, released a statement in July 2019 that Rhoden was banned from competing at the 2019 Mr. Olympia contest, as well as future competitions. A statement that same month from the governing body of the sport of bodybuilding and fitness, the IFBB (through representative Jim Manion), stated that the IFBB had thus far not taken any action regarding Rhoden, but would continue to monitor the situation.


title: Cameron Diaz filmography

text: Cameron Diaz is an American actress who has appeared in over 40 films throughout the course of her career, which spans over two decades. Originally a model, Diaz made her film debut in the comedy "The Mask" (1994). Followed by supporting roles in several independent films and comedies, such as "My Best Friend's Wedding" (1997), she has the starring role of Mary in the hit comedy "There's Something About Mary" (1998), which earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy or Musical. She was subsequently cast in Spike Jonze's surrealist fantasy film "Being John Malkovich" (1999), which earned her a second Golden Globe nomination, and in Oliver Stone's sports drama "Any Given Sunday" (1999).


title: Cameron Diaz filmography

text: Diaz would continue appearing in high-profile films in the early-2000s such as "Charlie's Angels" (2000) and its sequel, "" (2003), as well as voicing Princess Fiona in the "Shrek" franchise (2001–2010). She would gain two additional Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress for her roles in Cameron Crowe's "Vanilla Sky" (2001) and Martin Scorsese's period film "Gangs of New York" (2002).


title: Cameron Diaz filmography

text: In the late-2000s and early-2010s, Diaz continued to star in numerous comedies such as "What Happens in Vegas" (2008), "Bad Teacher" (2011), and "What to Expect When You're Expecting" (2012). She also starred in the psychological horror film "The Box" (2009) and the big-budget action film "The Green Hornet" (2011). Diaz had a supporting role in Ridley Scott's crime thriller "The Counselor" (2013), followed by a lead role in the comedy "Sex Tape" (2014) and the musical-comedy "Annie" (2014), an adaptation of the Broadway musical of the same name. After her appearance in "Annie", Diaz announced in 2018 that she had formally retired from acting. In 2022, she came out of retirement to join the Netflix action-comedy, "Back in Action".


title: Alejandro Mayorkas

text: Alejandro Nicholas Mayorkas (born November 24, 1959) is a Cuban-American government official and attorney who has been serving as the seventh United States Secretary of Homeland Security since February 2, 2021. During the Obama administration, he also served in the Department of Homeland Security, first as director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (2009–2013), and then as deputy secretary of DHS (2013–2016).


title: Alejandro Mayorkas

text: Mayorkas was born in Havana, Cuba. Shortly after the Cuban Revolution, his family fled to Florida and later settled in California. He graduated from UC Berkeley in history with honors, subsequently earning his J.D. from Loyola Marymount University. After law school, Mayorkas worked as an Assistant United States Attorney and was appointed the United States attorney for the


title: Alejandro Mayorkas

text: Central District of California in Los Angeles during the administration of President Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, where he oversaw the prosecution of high-profile criminal cases.


title: Alejandro Mayorkas

text: Mayorkas was a member of the presidential transition team for Barack Obama before he assumed office in January 2009, where he led the team responsible for the U.S. Department of Justice's Criminal Division. Mayorkas was appointed by President Obama as the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). On May 20, 2009, the nomination was received by the Senate; on August 7, 2009, the nomination was confirmed by the Senate by voice vote. As USCIS director, Mayorkas led United States citizenship through management efficiencies and fiscal responsibility, and safeguarded the integrity of the immigration system. He implemented the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) process in sixty days. He led U.S. government efforts to rescue orphaned children following the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti and led the advancement of a crime victims unit that, for the first time, resulted in the ability of the agency to administer the statutory maximum number of visas to victims of crime.


title: Alejandro Mayorkas

text: In 2016, Mayorkas became a partner at the law firm of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, in their Washington, D.C., office. On November 23, 2020, President-elect Joe Biden announced he would nominate Mayorkas as secretary of homeland security in his Cabinet. Mayorkas's nomination received the endorsement of the Fraternal Order of Police and former secretaries Tom Ridge, Michael Chertoff (who served under George W. Bush), Janet Napolitano and Jeh Johnson (under whom Mayorkas served), who said Biden "could not have found a more qualified person". On February 2, 2021, Mayorkas was confirmed by the Senate on a 56–43 vote, with significant Senate Republican opposition. He was sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris on February 2, 2021. Mayorkas is the first refugee and first person born in Latin America to lead the department.


title: Alejandro Mayorkas

text: Alejandro Nicholas Mayorkas was born in Havana, Cuba, on November 24, 1959. When he was one year old, his parents fled with him and his sister to the United States in 1960 as refugees, following the Cuban Revolution. He lived in Miami, Florida, before his family moved to Los Angeles, California, where he was raised for the remainder of his youth. Mayorkas grew up in Beverly Hills and attended Beverly Hills High School.


title: Alejandro Mayorkas

text: His father, Charles R. "Nicky" Mayorkas, was born in Cuba. He was a Cuban Jew of Sephardi (from the former Ottoman Empire, present-day Turkey and Greece) and Ashkenazi (from Poland) background. He owned and operated a steel wool factory on the outskirts of Havana. Nicky Mayorkas studied economics at Dartmouth College.


title: Alejandro Mayorkas

text: His mother, Anita (Gabor), was a Romanian Jew whose family escaped the Holocaust and fled to Cuba in the 1940s before leaving to the United States after the Cuban Revolution.


title: Alejandro Mayorkas

text: Mayorkas earned his Bachelor of Arts degree with distinction from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1981. He received his Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School in 1985.


title: Alejandro Mayorkas

text: After three years as a litigation associate in private practice, Mayorkas became an Assistant United States Attorney in the Central District of California in 1989. He prosecuted a wide array of federal crimes, developing a specialization in the prosecution of white-collar crime, including tax evasion and money laundering. His prosecutions included the successful prosecution of Operation PolarCap, then the largest money laundering case in the nation; the conviction at trial of Heidi Fleiss on charges of federal conspiracy, tax fraud, and money laundering charges; the successful prosecutions of two largest telemarketing fraud operations that preyed on the elderly; and the successful prosecution of a health care fraud and insurance fraud conspiracy.


title: Alejandro Mayorkas

text: Mayorkas served as the coordinator of the Southern California Telemarketing Fraud Task Force, overseeing the coordination of federal, state, and local law enforcement and regulatory agencies to most aggressively combat telemarketing fraud throughout the Central District of California.


title: Alejandro Mayorkas

text: From 1996 to 1998, Mayorkas served as Chief of the Office's General Crimes Section, overseeing the training and trial work of all new Assistant United States Attorneys in the Criminal Division. He received numerous awards from federal law enforcement agencies, including from FBI Director Louis Freeh for the successful prosecution of Operation PolarCap.


title: Alejandro Mayorkas

text: In 1998, Mayorkas was recommended by Senator Dianne Feinstein and appointed by President Bill Clinton as the United States Attorney for the Central District of California, becoming the country's youngest United States Attorney. He was appointed on December 21, 1998.


title: Alejandro Mayorkas

text: Mayorkas oversaw the prosecution of high-profile criminal cases, including the prosecution of the Mexican Mafia in death penalty proceedings, the prosecution of Buford O. Furrow Jr. for the murder of a federal postal worker and the hate-motivated shooting of children in a community center, the prosecution of Litton Industries for the payment of bribes abroad, and the takedown of the violent 18th Street gang using RICO statutes.


title: Alejandro Mayorkas

text: In late 2000, Mayorkas was one of many California officials who participated in efforts to obtain executive clemency for narcotics trafficker Carlos Vignali Jr., the son of a wealthy Los Angeles businessman. On his last day in office in January 2001, Clinton commuted Vignali's 15-year prison sentence, a controversial decision.


title: Alejandro Mayorkas

text: In September 2001, Mayorkas joined O'Melveny & Myers as a litigation partner. In 2008, "The National Law Journal" named Mayorkas one of the "50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America".


title: Alejandro Mayorkas

text: Upon the election of Barack Obama in November 2008, Mayorkas was selected by the president-elect for a role in the presidential transition leading up to the inauguration. He led the transition team responsible for the U.S. Department of Justice's Criminal Division.


title: Alejandro Mayorkas

text: In 2009, Mayorkas was appointed by President Obama as the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). On May 20, 2009, the nomination was received by the Senate; on August 7, 2009, the nomination was confirmed by the Senate by voice vote. As USCIS director, Mayorkas led United States citizenship through management efficiencies and fiscal responsibility, and safeguarding the integrity of the immigration system. He implemented the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) process in sixty days. He led U.S. government efforts to rescue orphaned children following the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti and led the advancement of a crime victims unit that, for the first time, resulted in the ability of the agency to administer the statutory maximum number of visas to victims of crime.


title: Alejandro Mayorkas

text: For his work as director of USCIS, Mayorkas received awards from the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund.


title: Alejandro Mayorkas

text: In 2015, a Department of Homeland Security inspector general (DHS IG) report criticized Mayorkas' oversight of the EB-5 investor visa program, which offered lawful permanent resident status (green cards) to foreign investors who invested $500,000 into businesses that created jobs in the U.S. The program's popularity greatly increased under Mayorkas's tenure. The DHS IG report, which was the culmination of an investigation beginning in 2013, focused on allegations that politically connected businesses were given special treatment under the program, focusing specifically on the Sahara casino and hotel in Las Vegas, backed by then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and an electric car company led by Terry McAuliffe and involving Anthony Rodham. The report concluded that "The juxtaposition of Mr. Mayorkas' communication with external stakeholders on specific matters outside the normal procedures, coupled with favorable action that deviated from the regulatory scheme designed to ensure fairness and evenhandedness in adjudicating benefits, created an appearance of favoritism and special access." The "fast-tracking" of approvals for individuals involved in the casino program was controversial because it was made over the objections of USCIS analysts "who were suspicious about the source of the funds".


title: Alejandro Mayorkas

text: Nominated by President Obama in June 2013, Mayorkas was confirmed as the deputy secretary on December 20, 2014, following a party-line Senate vote.


title: Alejandro Mayorkas

text: The DHS inspector general's investigation into Mayorkas's intervention as USCIS director to expedite reviews for applicants for foreign investor visas in three cases caused controversy and delayed his confirmation proceedings. The inspector general's report found that Mayorkas's acts did not violate the law, but did create an appearance of favoritism. In House Homeland Security Committee testimony in May 2015, Mayorkas expressed regret that his intervention created an impression of favoritism, but said his involvement was motivated by a desire to ensure that the applications were handled in accordance with the law: "I did not let errors go unchecked, but instead helped ensure that those cases were decided correctly, nothing more and nothing less."


title: Alejandro Mayorkas

text: As deputy secretary, Mayorkas's led DHS's response to the 2013–14 Ebola virus epidemic and 2015–16 Zika virus epidemic. His work also focused on cybersecurity. He led the DHS's negotiations with Israel and China on cybersecurity. A landmark agreement reached in 2015 with the Chinese government reduced, for a brief period, Chinese cyberattacks against American companies aimed at the theft of intellectual property. After the normalization of U.S.-Cuba relations, Mayorkas led the Obama administration's delegation to Cuba, and negotiated with the Cuban government on port and cargo security and U.S.-Cuba travel.


title: Alejandro Mayorkas

text: Mayorkas was also involved in the Department's counterterrorism and anti-cybercrime efforts, as well as its public-private partnerships, and efforts to fight antisemitism. Under Mayorkas's tenure, DHS greatly expanded its Cyber Crimes Center in Fairfax, Virginia, to aid the department's efforts to combat various cybercrimes, ranging from child exploitation to computer hacking and intellectual property theft. Mayorkas was involved in efforts to address DHS's presence on GAO's "high risk list" for management challenges; Mayorkas, as well as Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, acknowledged low morale among DHS employees (a longstanding problem that pre-dated the Obama administration) and took steps aimed at boosting morale.


title: Alejandro Mayorkas

text: In October 2016, Mayorkas joined the law firm of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr in the firm's Washington office.


title: Alejandro Mayorkas

text: On November 23, 2020, President-elect Joe Biden announced his plan to nominate Mayorkas to be Secretary of Homeland Security.


title: Alejandro Mayorkas

text: Mayorkas has the support of the Fraternal Order of Police and endorsements from former secretaries Tom Ridge and Michael Chertoff (who served under George W. Bush) and Janet Napolitano and Jeh Johnson (who served under Barack Obama), who said Biden "could not have found a more qualified person".


title: Alejandro Mayorkas

text: Most Senate Republicans opposed the nomination; Josh Hawley delayed a speedy confirmation, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell urged his caucus to vote against confirmation. Ultimately, Mayorkas was confirmed on a 56–43 vote. Republican Senators Shelley Moore Capito, Rob Portman, Susan Collins, Mitt Romney, Lisa Murkowski, and Dan Sullivan voted with the Democrats to confirm Mayorkas.


title: Alejandro Mayorkas

text: Mayorkas was sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris on February 2, 2021, after his confirmation that day.


title: Alejandro Mayorkas

text: Early on in his tenure, arrests surged at the Mexico-United States border. In June 2021, the monthly number of intercepted migrants reached a decade high of 188,800.


title: Alejandro Mayorkas

text: On October 19, 2021, Mayorkas tested positive for COVID-19 during a test performed as part of pre-travel protocol. He experienced mild symptoms, forcing him to cancel a trip to Bogotá, Colombia, and to reschedule a Senate hearing.


title: Alejandro Mayorkas

text: Testifying to the Homeland Security Subcommittee of the House Committee on Appropriations on April 27, 2022, Mayorkas confirmed that the Biden Administration will implement a "Disinformation Working Group" in the DHS with the intention to "develop guidelines, standards, [and] guardrails" to shape the department's longstanding effort to counter disinformation. Three weeks later, after critics called the initiative "a violation of free speech" and its executive director Nina Jankowicz had resigned, the Disinformation Working Group was "paused".


title: Alejandro Mayorkas

text: In September 2021, a photo circulated of Border Patrol agents using their "long rein" to control horses, however the photo appeared to show them "whipping" Haitian migrants. Upon its release, the image generated outrage. Initially, Mayorkas defended the actions of agents, but later, at a White House press conference, condemned their actions and pledged to investigate them. In October 2022, the Heritage Foundation released emails that showed hours before the press conference Mayorkas received emails that disproved the whipping claim, including from the photographer himself. Republicans condemned Mayorkas upon the emails release. Senator Ted Cruz, Representatives Andy Biggs, Michael Cloud and Vicky Hartzler have threatened to impeach Mayorkas. Chief of the United States Border Patrol under President Obama and acting Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection under President Trump Mark A. Morgan also condemned Mayorkas's actions.


title: Alejandro Mayorkas

text: Mayorkas and his wife Tanya have two daughters, Giselle and Amelia. He is a runner and plays tennis and squash.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: The Republic of Korea Armed Forces (), also known as the ROK Armed Forces, are the armed forces of South Korea. The ROK Armed Forces is one of the largest and most powerful standing armed forces in the world with a reported personnel strength of 3,305,000 in 2020 (555,000 active and 2,750,000 reserve). As a result of its size and equipment, it is ranked the 6th most powerful military on the planet by the Global Firepower Index as of 2022.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: The Republic of Korea Armed Forces traces its root back to the establishment of the Korean Republic in 1919 wherein its armed wing was called the Korean Liberation Army and it conducted warfare against the Japanese occupation by conducting large-scale offensives, assassinations, bombings, sabotage, and search and rescue missions. Formally founded in 1948, following the establishment of the Republic of Korea’s government after the liberation of Korea in 1945. South Korea's military forces are responsible for maintaining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state and also engage in peacekeeping operations, humanitarian and disaster relief efforts worldwide.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: The origin of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces can be traced back to the Korean Independence Army, which was established by the Provisional Government of Korea in exile in Chongking, Republic of China in 1940 during the Japanese rule of Korea. Many of its members became part of the South Korean armed forces later. In addition, some ethnic Korean Kuomintang and Manchukuo soldiers also contributed to the forces.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: After Korea was liberated from the Empire of Japan on August 15, 1945, the Korean Constabulary and the Korean Coast Guard (organized by Sohn Won-yil and others) were established through the United States Army Military Government in Korea. The Korean Constabulary and the Korean Coast Guard became the Republic of Korea Army and Republic of Korea Navy respectively, and formed the Republic of Korea Armed Forces after the South Korean government was established on August 15, 1948. The Republic of Korea Air Force was founded in October 1949.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: The South Korean armed forces remained largely constabulary forces until the outbreak of the Korean War on June 25, 1950, requiring the United Nations to intervene with United States-led forces. The South Korean military rapidly developed during the Korean War, despite suffering enormous casualties. As the Soviets had armed North Korea, the U.S. armed and trained the South Korean military throughout the Korean War. After the Korean War, South Korea established a joint military partnership with the United States, termed the ROK-U.S. Alliance, as outlined by the Mutual Defense Treaty. During the Vietnam War, the ROK Army and ROK Marines were among those fighting alongside South Vietnam and the United States.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: In the 1970s, through the Park Chung-hee Administration's ""Yulgok" Plan", South Korea began to build up self-reliant, national defense capability. During South Korea's period of rapid growth in the 1980s, the military modernized, benefiting from several government-sponsored technology transfer projects and indigenous defense capability initiatives. In the 1990s, "South Korean industries provided about 70 percent of the weapons, ammunition, communications and other types of equipment, vehicles, clothing, and other supplies needed by the military."


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: Today, the South Korean armed forces enjoy a good mix of avant-garde as well as older conventional weapons. Its capabilities include many sophisticated Western weapon systems, complemented by a growing and increasingly more advanced indigenous defense manufacturing sector. For example, by taking advantage of the strong local shipbuilding industry, the ROK Navy has embarked on a rigorous modernization plan with ambitions to become a blue-water navy in the 2020s.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: The ROK military forces are undergoing some preparation for assuming wartime operational control of the ROK's defenses. Several cutting-edge military systems are currently being inducted.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: Based on the Moon Jae-in Administration's 'Defense Reform 2.0' and in line with the overall troop drawdown scheme, the number of generals and admirals will be reduced by 17 percent from the current 436 to 360 by 2022 to reduce the bloated top command apparatus. This means the removal of 66 general-level positions for the Army and five each for the Navy and Air Force. At the same time, the ROK Armed Forces will see a reduction in active duty personnel from 640,000 to 517,000, and the length of compulsory military service will also be reduced to 18 – 22 months by 2022.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: 'Defense Reform 2.0' is also intended to make the ROK military more independent to prepare for the ROK military retaining operational control authority in wartime (OPCON transfer), rather than American general taking command. Initial operational control capability was verified in 2019, with full operational capability planned for 2021, and full mission capability planned for 2022.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: The signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement in 1953 by the Republic of Korea (South Korea) and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), ended the active hostilities of the Korean War. Since an official peace treaty has not been signed by North and South Korea, defensive actions needed to be implemented by the Republic of Korea Army in case of another North Korean attack. During the Cold War era, a variety of anti-tank barricades were constructed over roads and railroad tracks leading in and out of Seoul, as well as within the Gyeonggi Province. The anti-tank barricades or “rock drops” are made up of giant concrete blocks mounted on thin walls, made to look like fake bridges and overpasses, that lead to nowhere but house hundreds of tons of rubble.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: These structures are rigged with explosives and are designed to be blown up by the South Korean Army which would drop the rubble blocking roads and railways. Along with the anti-tank barricades, the South Korean Army placed barbed-wire fences along the Han River and hundreds of 3-foot tall concrete pillars arranged in rows, known as “dragon teeth,” across open fields. During the 1970s and 1980s when most of these structures were built, the goal was to slow down enemy tanks, troops, and other vehicles and to buy time for South Korean civilians to flee from the invading North Korean forces, as well as to allow for the Republic of Korea and the United States Army to employ troops to defensive positions.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: The South Korean Ministry of National Defense claims that the anti-tank barricades are inspected regularly for safety concerns, but the barricades show cracks and signs of erosion. Local governments and civilians are now demanding that the anti-tank barricades be removed as they pose a great safety risk, obstruct new development, and many people believe have outlived their purpose. There are about 250,000 vehicles a day that pass by the barricades and their vibrations contribute to weakening the structures. Despite safety concerns, tearing down barricades is a complicated matter.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: Since North Korea lost security and economic support from Russia in 1990 and China in 1992, a full-ground force assault on South Korea is unlikely according to military analysts. North Korea has changed its military tactics and now focuses on long-range and covert strikes. Through long-range artillery barrages, missile strikes, or chemical weapons attacks deliberately non-American in target and short of all-out war, the North could seek to hold Seoul hostage with the hope of renegotiating a new status quo. Special warfare units are expected to use wartime tunnels or various infiltration means such as submarines, air-cushion vehicles (ACVs), AN-2 aircraft, and helicopters to infiltrate the forward and rear areas and conduct hybrid operations in the form of striking major units and facilities, assassinating key figures, and disturbing the rear area.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: The Defense Reform Base Plan was originally presented by President Roh Moo-hyun in December 2006, but after years of evolution, and political and military pushback the reform was launched by President Moon Jae-in’s administration. The ROK Armed Forces will firmly implement Defense Reform 2.0 to proactively respond to changes in the security environment and omnidirectional security threats, as well as support peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula based on strength. To this end, the ROK Armed Forces will work toward "steadfast national defense.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: Command over the ROK Armed Forces is established in the Constitution. The President is the Commander-in-Chief Forces "ex officio". The military authority runs from the President to the Minister of National Defense, who is often to be (but not legally bound to be) a retired four-star general. The President and Minister of National Defense are in charge of the entire military establishment, maintaining civilian control of the military. The Minister of National Defense, by order of the President, takes charge of military affairs, and supervises the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the chief of staff of each service of the Armed Forces.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: To coordinate military strategy with political affairs, the President has a National Security Council headed by the National Security Advisor.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: The Joint Chiefs of Staff consists of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the military service chiefs from the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Unlike the U.S. counterpart, operational command of combat units falls within the purview of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who reports to the Minister of National Defense.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a four-star general or admiral, is the senior officer of the Armed Forces. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff assists the Minister of National Defense with regard to operational command authority, and supervises the combat units of each service of the Armed Forces, by order of the Minister of National Defense. The chain of operational control runs straight from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the commandants of the Army, Navy, and Air Force operational commands. The respective chiefs of staff of each service branch (Army, Navy, and Air Force) has administrative control over his or her own service.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: The ROK Armed Forces consists of the ROK Army, ROK Navy, and ROK Air Force. The ROK Marine Corps functions as a branch of the Navy. The ROK Reserve Forces is a reserve component.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: The ROK Army (ROKA) is by far the largest of the military branches, with about 420,000 personnel as of 2020. This comes as a response to both the mountainous terrain native to the Korean Peninsula (70% mountainous) as well as the heavy North Korean presence, with its 1-million-strong army, two-thirds of which is permanently garrisoned in the frontline near the DMZ. The current administration has initiated a program of self-defense, whereby South Korea would be able to fully counter the North Korean threat with purely domestic means by about 2030.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: The ROK Army was formerly organized into three armies: the First Army (FROKA), Third Army (TROKA) and Second Operational Command each with its own headquarters, corps (not Second Operational Command), and divisions. The Third Army was responsible for the defense of the capital as well as the western section of the DMZ. The First Army was responsible for the defense of the eastern section of the DMZ whereas the Second Operational Command formed the rearguard.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: Under a restructuring plan aimed at reducing redundancy, the First and Third Armies will be incorporated into the newly formed First Operations Command, whereas the Second ROK Army has been converted into the Second Operational Command. The army consists of the Army Headquarters, the Aviation Command, and the Special Warfare Command, with 9 corps, 36 divisions, some 464,000 troops and estimated as many as 5,850 tanks and armored vehicles, 11,337 artillery systems, 7,032 missile defense systems and 13,000 infantry support systems.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: The army will take the brunt of the personnel reduction part of the Defense Reform 307. Associated with this personnel reduction would be a significant reduction in the ROK Army force structure, in particular decreasing the current force of 47 divisions (active duty and reserve) down to a force of about 28 divisions.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: The ROK Navy (ROKN) is responsible for naval and amphibious operations. The ROK Navy has about 70,000 regular personnel including 29,000 Republic of Korea Marines. There are about 150 commissioned ships with the ROK Navy (a total displacement of about 215,000 tonnes). The naval aviation force consists of about 70 fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: The Republic of Korea Navy includes the Republic of Korea Navy Headquarters, Republic of Korea Fleet, and Republic of Korea Marine Corps. The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) is the highest-ranking officer of the ROK Navy, and oversees the administration of organizing, recruiting, training, equipping, supplying, and mobilizing the ROK Navy. The Republic of Korea Fleet is the highest operational command of the ROK Navy.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: Since the 1990s, the ROK Navy has been trying to build an ocean-going fleet to protect the sea lines of communication. During Admiral An Pyong-tae's tenure as CNO, President Kim Young-sam supported the Navy by approving a long-term shipbuilding plan for the ocean-going navy. In the first decade of the 21st century, the ROK Navy launched the lead ships of larger and better equipped warships with local shipbuilders: In 2002, ROKS "Chungmugong Yi Sunshin" (DDH 975), a 4,500-ton destroyer, was launched; in 2005, the 14,000-ton amphibious warfare ship, ROKS "Dokdo" (LPH 6111) was launched; in 2006, the ROK Navy launched ROKS "Sohn Wonyil" (SS 072), an 1,800-ton Type 214 submarine with Air-Independent propulsion (AIP) system. In 2007, the ROK Navy launched the lead ship (DDG 991) of "Sejong the Great-"class destroyers with the Aegis Combat System.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: The ROK Navy completed a new naval base called Jeju Civilian-Military Complex Port in 2016 on the southern coast of Jeju Island to protect the sea lines of communication. In order to support ocean-going operations, the ROK Navy commissioned the 10,000-ton logistics support ship, ROKS "Soyang" (AOE 51), and launched the first locally designed 3,000-ton submarine, "Dosan Ahn Changho" (SS 083) in 2018. The ROK Navy continues to upgrade ongoing shipbuilding programs such as the Korean Submarine (KSS), Korean Destroyer Experimental (KDX), Frigate Experimental (FFX), and Landing Transport Experimental (LPX).


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: The ROK Marine Corps (ROKMC) is a branch of the Republic of Korea Navy responsible for amphibious operations, and also functions as a rapid reaction force and a strategic reserve. The ROK Marine Corps, with 29,000 personnel, is organized into two divisions and two brigades. The ROK Marine Corps has about 300 tracked vehicles including assault amphibious vehicles, main battle tanks, and self-propelled artillery.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: The Commandant of the Republic of Korea Marine Corps is a three-star general. Following the bombardment of Yeonpyeong Island in 2010 and the subsequent establishment of the Northwest Islands Defense Command (NWIDC), the Commandant of the ROKMC has been dual-hatted as the Commander NWIDC.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: The ROK Air Force (ROKAF) maintains a modern air force in order to defend itself from various modes of threats, including the North Korean Army. The ROK Air Force fields some 450 combat aircraft of American design. In contrast, the North Korean Army has roughly 650 combat aircraft, but mostly obsolete types of Soviet and Chinese origin.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: Korea began a program for the development of indigenous jet trainers beginning in 1997. This project eventually culminated in the KAI T-50, dubbed the "Golden Eagle" which is used as a trainer for jet pilots, now being exported to Indonesia. A multirole all-weather version of the T-50 is the modified FA-50, which can be externally fitted with Rafael's Sky Shield or LIG Nex1's ALQ-200K ECM pods, Sniper or LITENING targeting pods, and Condor 2 reconnaissance pods to further improve the fighter's electronic warfare, reconnaissance, and targeting capabilities. Other improved weapon systems over FA-50 include SPICE multifunctional guidance kits, Textron CBU-97/105 Sensor Fuzed Weapon with WCMD tail kits, JDAM, and JDAM-ER for more comprehensive air-to-ground operations, and AIM-120 missiles for BVR air-to-air operations. FA-50 has provisions for, but does not yet integrate, Python and Derby missiles, also produced by Rafael, and other anti-ship missiles, stand-off weapons, and sensors to be domestically developed by Korea.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: The Republic of Korea Air Force also expressed interests in acquiring the RQ-4 Global Hawk and Joint Direct Attack Munition kits to further improve their intelligence and offensive capabilities.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: The replacement programs for the F-4D/E and F-5A/B/E/F are the KTX-2 and F-X, respectively. The latter has been fulfilled by the Boeing F-15K.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: The South Korean government also announced its plan to develop indigenous helicopter manufacturing capacities to replace the aging UH-1 helicopters, many of which had seen service during the Vietnam War. The program originally included plans for the development of both a civilian and a military helicopter. This was later revised and gave priority to the utility helicopter program. Based on the success and experience of the civilian KMH (Korean Multi-purpose Helicopter) the attack helicopter, which would share a common configuration, will be developed.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: Conscription in South Korea requires male citizens over between the age of 18 and 28 to perform compulsory military service. Women are not required to perform military service, but they may volunteer as officers, warrant officers, or non-commissioned officers.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: The length of compulsory military service varies based on service branches: Active duty enlisted personnel serve 18 months in the Army or Marine Corps, 20 months in the Navy, and 21 months in the Air Force (the length of military service will be reduced to 18 – 22 months by 2022.). Commissioned officers, warrant officers, and non-commissioned officers are volunteer-based, and serve longer terms than those of enlisted personnel, or as career. Non-active duty personnel such as social work personnel serve for various lengths. After conscripts finish their military service, they are automatically placed on the reserve roster.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: In the South Korean armed forces, ranks fall into one of four categories: commissioned officer, warrant officer, non-commissioned officer, and junior enlisted (""Byeong""), in decreasing order of authority. Commissioned officer ranks are subdivided into ""Jangseong""-level (general) officers, ""Yeonggwan""-level (field-grade) officers, and ""Wigwan""-level (company-grade) officers. All three branches of the South Korean Armed Forces share the same rank insignia and titles in Korean (The English titles are given as comparative examples with the US Army ranks.).


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: ROK Navy commissioned officer ranks have two distinct sets of rank insignia: On dress uniform, a series of stripes similar to Commonwealth naval ranks are worn; on service uniforms, working uniforms, and special uniform situations (combat utilities and flight suits), the rank insignia are the same as the equivalent rank in the Army or the Air Force.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: South Korea has one of the highest defense budgets in the world, ranking 9th globally in 2020, with a budget of nearly $44 billion U.S. dollars.


title: Republic of Korea Armed Forces

text: As part of its mission, the ROK Armed Forces have engaged in peacekeeping operations, humanitarian, and disaster-relief efforts worldwide. In 2008, officers and soldiers of Unit Dongmyeong, stationed in Lebanon with the UNIFIL, received honorary medals from the United Nations.


title: The Fear Street Trilogy

text: The Fear Street Trilogy is an American horror film series, with varying subgenres of horror, particularly the slasher and supernatural subgenres. Directed by Leigh Janiak from scripts and stories she co-wrote with other contributors, the films are based on R. L. Stine's book series of the same name. The overall story revolves around teenagers who work to break the curse that has been over their town for hundreds of years. Produced and developed by 20th Century Studios and Chernin Entertainment, the film's distribution rights were eventually acquired by Netflix following The Walt Disney Company's purchase of 21st Century Fox.


title: The Fear Street Trilogy

text: The three films were shot back-to-back, and were released on a weekly basis as Netflix Original Films in July 2021 to positive reviews. More films from the trilogy are planned.


title: The Fear Street Trilogy

text: In October 1997, Hollywood Pictures struck a deal to acquire the "Fear Street" series of books, which were set to be developed with Parachute Entertainment as a "Scream"-like feature franchise. Developments never materialized.


title: The Fear Street Trilogy

text: In October 2015, a film based on Stine's "Fear Street" series was being developed by 20th Century Fox and Chernin Entertainment. On February 13, 2017, The Tracking Board reported that Kyle Killen would write the script for the film. In July, the adaptation was announced as a trilogy, with Leigh Janiak directing, and rewriting the script with her partner Phil Graziadei. Zak Olkewicz was also drafting a script. The films were to be shot back to back, with the intention of releasing them to theaters one month apart. Janiak describes the format as a "hybrid of traditional television content and movies," with each installment intended to both have a satisfying ending and connecting to the larger story.


title: The Fear Street Trilogy

text: The series was reported to be centered around a young lesbian couple, navigating their rocky relationship when they are targeted by crazy horrors in their small town. In March 2019, filming began in Atlanta and East Point, Georgia, with some parts filmed at Hard Labor Creek State Park in Rutledge in August 2019. The shoot lasted for 106 days, wrapping in September 2019.


title: The Fear Street Trilogy

text: In April 2020, Chernin Entertainment ended their distribution deal with 20th Century Studios and made a multi-year first-look deal with Netflix, resulting in the latter distributing the trilogy.


title: The Fear Street Trilogy

text: After a series of brutal slayings, a group of teenagers take on an evil force that's plagued their notorious town for centuries.


title: The Fear Street Trilogy

text: The film was released on July 2, 2021. Janiak describes it as influenced by 1990s slasher films, especially "Scream".


title: The Fear Street Trilogy

text: In the cursed town of Shadyside, a killer's murder spree terrorizes Camp Nightwing and turns a summer of fun into a gruesome fight for survival.


title: The Fear Street Trilogy

text: Thrust back to 1666, Deena learns the truth about Sarah Fier. Back in 1994, the friends fight for their lives — and Shadyside’s future.


title: The Fear Street Trilogy

text: In July 2021, director Leigh Janiak expressed interest in expanding the film series beyond the trilogy of movies. She had stated to be interested in adapting a slasher film that takes place during the 1950s and centers on Harry Rooker / The Milkman. Cast members similarly expressed interest in returning.


title: The Fear Street Trilogy

text: In July 2022, Stine stated that there are discussions ongoing for additional films being developed in the series. Later that month, "Bloody Disgusting" confirmed this statement with Netflix, stating that official plans would be announced in the future.


title: The Fear Street Trilogy

text: The first film was scheduled to be released theatrically in June 2020, but was pulled from the schedule because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In April 2020, Chernin Entertainment ended their distribution deal with 20th Century Studios and made a multi-year first-look deal with Netflix. By August 2020, Netflix had acquired the distribution rights to the "Fear Street" trilogy. The films were released exclusively as Netflix Original Films.


title: The Fear Street Trilogy

text: In May 2021, the official trailer released by Netflix announced the respective films' credits, release dates, and official titles, as: "Fear Street: Part One - 1994", "Fear Street: Part Two - 1978", and "Fear Street: Part Three - 1666". The trilogy of films is R-rated, with original novel series writer R.L. Stine praising the direction and adaptations of his books.


title: Jason Isbell

text: Michael Jason Isbell (; born February 1, 1979) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is known for his solo career, his work with the band The 400 Unit, and as a member of Drive-By Truckers for six years, from 2001 to 2007. Isbell has won four Grammy Awards.


title: Jason Isbell

text: Isbell was born in Green Hill, Alabama, two miles from the Alabama/Tennessee state line, the son of interior designer mother Angela Hill Barnett and house painter Mike Isbell. Isbell's mother was only 17 years old (and his father 19 years old) when he was born and is the subject of a song, "Children of Children". Isbell's parents divorced, and he has two much younger half-siblings.


title: Jason Isbell

text: Isbell grew up in North Alabama. His grandparents lived on a farm down the road next to the school that Isbell attended; they looked after him while his parents were at work. His grandfather and uncle taught him to play various musical instruments, including the mandolin when he was six years old, as it was easier for him to grip as a small child. They enjoyed gospel music, bluegrass music, and the Grand Ole Opry. In high school, he played trumpet and French horn. Isbell's family would get together and play music every week, sometimes twice a week. Isbell's paternal grandfather, who came from a musical family, was a Pentecostal preacher and played guitar in church. Isbell spent his childhood attending both the Pentecostal church and the stricter Church of Christ, which permitted only singing without musical instruments.


title: Jason Isbell

text: Isbell started playing in a garage band and a country cover band when he was 14 or 15 years old with his friend, songwriter Chris Tompkins. They played at the Grand Ole Opry when Isbell was 16.


title: Jason Isbell

text: Isbell attended the University of Memphis, studying English and creative writing. He did not graduate, still requiring one physical education credit.


title: Jason Isbell

text: When Isbell was a teenager, many musicians took him under their wing. He got to know session bassist David Hood, father of Drive-By Truckers co-founder Patterson Hood, because David Hood was in the Florence, Alabama area and played around town on Friday and Saturday nights in local restaurants and bars. By this time, Patterson Hood and his future Drive-By Truckers co-founder, Mike Cooley, were older and had moved out of town. Isbell would go watch David Hood and others perform. It took a while, but once he finally got up the nerve to tell them he played, they would have him sit in with them, which resulted in friendship and mentorship.


title: Jason Isbell

text: Isbell submitted demos and eventually got a publishing deal with FAME Studios of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, when he was 21. He worked with FAME for 15 years, through his solo album "Southeastern". Isbell also recorded pieces of his solo albums at FAME Studios, as well as the Drive-By Truckers' "The Dirty South".


title: Jason Isbell

text: In 2001, at age 22, Isbell joined the Drive-By Truckers while they toured in support of their album "Southern Rock Opera". The band operates out of Athens, Georgia, where Isbell lived while with the band. Co-founder Patterson Hood recalls that he met Isbell through Dick Cooper, a mutual friend from Muscle Shoals. Hood invited Isbell to join the Drive-By Truckers after he sat in with the group at an acoustic house party when guitarist Rob Malone did not show up.


title: Jason Isbell

text: Isbell recorded and contributed many songs to the Drive-By Truckers for their next three albums, 2003's "Decoration Day," 2004's "The Dirty South," and 2006's "A Blessing and a Curse." The title track of "Decoration Day" was revealed by Isbell in the 2014 "Live from Lincoln Center" concert to be a true story about his family members.


title: Jason Isbell

text: For most of his time as a band member, Isbell was married to Shonna Tucker, who joined the band after Isbell as bassist. The two were part of the band's documentary, "The Secret to a Happy Ending". The two later divorced.


title: Jason Isbell

text: On April 5, 2007, Isbell announced that he was no longer a member of the Drive-By Truckers. The following day, Patterson Hood confirmed the break on the band's official site. In his letter to the fans, Hood described the parting of ways as "amicable" and expressed the hope that fans would continue to support the Drive-By Truckers as well as Isbell's solo efforts. Isbell had been with the Drive-By Truckers for six years.


title: Jason Isbell

text: On June 15, 2014, Isbell teamed with Hood and Mike Cooley for a benefit at the Shoals Theater in Florence, Alabama. The sold-out acoustic performance was the first time Isbell had performed with his former bandmates since they split in 2007. In August 2015, Hood joined Isbell onstage and played a couple of Drive-By Truckers songs together in Hood's new adopted hometown of Portland, Oregon.


title: Jason Isbell

text: Isbell released his first solo album, "Sirens of the Ditch", on July 10, 2007. In 2012, Isbell supported singer-songwriter Ryan Adams on his tour. Both played solo acoustic sets.


title: Jason Isbell

text: On June 11, 2013, Isbell released his fourth solo album, "Southeastern." Produced by Dave Cobb and featuring accompanying vocals by Kim Richey and Isbell's wife, Amanda Shires, "Southeastern" received overwhelmingly positive critical reviews, earning a score of 87 on Metacritic. "Southeastern" led to Isbell's clean sweep of the 2014 Americana Music Awards. "Southeastern" won Album of the Year, Isbell was named Artist of the Year, and the song "Cover Me Up" was named Song of the Year. It was later certified Gold by RIAA in 2022. NPR rock critic Ken Tucker listed "Southeastern" at No. 1 on his top ten albums of 2013. Isbell's record received praise by artists like Bruce Springsteen and John Prine. The music video for the song "Traveling Alone" features the Jackson House, a historic home in Moulton, Alabama.


title: Jason Isbell

text: Isbell's fifth solo record, "Something More Than Free," was released on July 17, 2015, on Southeastern Records. Dave Cobb again produced the album, which was recorded at Nashville's Sound Emporium studio with a full band. During the summer of 2015, Isbell was on a North American tour to promote the album, with four consecutive sold-out nights at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville at the end of October. In April 2016, Isbell appeared on the BBC live-music show "Later With Jools Holland," singing "The Life You Chose", one of the tracks from "Something More Than Free".


title: Jason Isbell

text: Isbell said that compared to "Southeastern," "Something More Than Free" has a feeling of celebration, which reflects his upcoming fatherhood and a forward-facing momentum. One track on the record, "To a Band I Loved", is a love-letter to the band Centro-Matic, a now defunct band from Denton, Texas, Isbell played with back in his Drive-By Truckers days.


title: Jason Isbell

text: "Something More Than Free" debuted at number 1 on Billboard Magazine's rock, folk and country record charts. Although Isbell had had critical success in the Americana genre, this was the first time he received such high ranking across genres. The album was well received, winning two Grammy awards for Best Americana Album and Best American Roots Song ("24 Frames"). On May 11, 2016, Isbell, a four-time winner, was nominated for three more Americana Music Honors & Awards: Album of the Year ("Something More Than Free"), Song of the Year ("24 Frames"), and Artist of the Year. He won the first two, while Chris Stapleton won Artist of the Year.


title: Jason Isbell

text: Isbell's band, The 400 Unit, is primarily made up of musicians from the Muscle Shoals, Alabama, area. The lineup is:


title: Jason Isbell

text: The band's name comes from the 400 Unit, a colloquial name for the psychiatric ward of Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital in Florence, Alabama. It was originally called the 400 Unit because it was in a separate building from the main three-story hospital. After renovation in the 1980s, the ward was renamed as the Behavioral Health Center, also known as 1st North, and is located on the hospital's first floor.


title: Jason Isbell

text: Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit's eponymous album was released on February 17, 2009, on Lightning Rod Records. "Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit" was Isbell's second solo release and his first release with The 400 Unit. Matt Pence of Centro-Matic co-produced and engineered the record, as well as playing drums on the record.


title: Jason Isbell

text: Isbell and the 400 Unit released their second album, "Here We Rest," on April 12, 2011, on Lightning Rod Records. The album was produced and recorded by the band. The song "Alabama Pines" was named Song of the Year at the 2012 Americana Music Awards.


title: Jason Isbell

text: On March 13, 2017, Isbell announced a new album with the 400 Unit, "The Nashville Sound". The album was released on June 16, 2017. Isbell and the band won the Grammy Award for Best Americana Album and Isbell won Grammy Award for Best American Roots Song at the 60th ceremony.


title: Jason Isbell

text: In October 2017, Isbell was announced to be the official artist-in-residence at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. He made a guest appearance on John Prine's 2018 album "The Tree of Forgiveness". Isbell contributed the ballad "Maybe It's Time" to the soundtrack of the 2018 film "A Star Is Born", where it was performed by actor Bradley Cooper's character, Jackson Maine.


title: Jason Isbell

text: On February 11, 2020, Isbell announced a new album, "Reunions". It was released on May 15, 2020. "Reunions" sees Isbell once again working with producer Dave Cobb and features guest vocals by Jay Buchanan of Rival Sons and David Crosby. The album announcement was made alongside the release of the first song of the album, "Be Afraid", which peaked at a career high number 5 on the Adult Alternative Songs chart. Also, second single, "Dreamsicle" peaked at number 20 on the same chart.


title: Jason Isbell

text: On November 5, 2020, Isbell announced on Twitter that if Joe Biden won the state of Georgia in the 2020 United States presidential election, he would record a charity album featuring covers of songs by Georgia artists, such as R.E.M. and Gladys Knight. After it was projected that Biden had won the state, he reaffirmed on Twitter that he was being serious and that he would begin work on the album shortly. The album, entitled "Georgia Blue", was formally announced on September 14, 2021 with release dates of October 15 for the digital version and November 26 for CD and vinyl. Isbell and the 400 Unit contributed a cover of the Metallica song "Sad but True" to the charity tribute album "The Metallica Blacklist", released in September 2021.


title: Jason Isbell

text: Isbell's first acting role came in 2016 when he guest starred in the animated TV series "Squidbillies", providing the voice of pastor Kyle Nubbins. The show has featured other Americana singers in cameo roles, including Elizabeth Cook, Todd Snider, and the Drive-By Truckers, among others. In 2019, Isbell had a cameo as a guitar-playing wedding guest in the HBO film "". "Billions", another TV series known for giving cameo roles to musicians, featured Isbell in a 2021 episode, with Isbell playing himself viewing an art exhibit.


title: Jason Isbell

text: In 2021, Isbell was cast in the upcoming Martin Scorsese film "Killers of the Flower Moon" as Bill Smith, a victim of the Osage Indian murders. Isbell's role in the film was announced on April 6, 2021, and will mark his major on-screen acting debut; fellow country singer Sturgill Simpson was also announced as being part of the cast.


title: Jason Isbell

text: Isbell has spoken about the importance of his northern Alabama roots: "I definitely don't feel like I would be the musician that I am, or the type of songwriter, had I not come from that particular place," he says now. "The soul music that came out of there, and a lot of the soul-influenced rock and roll and country music that came out of the studios in north Alabama in the 1960s and 1970s had a big influence on me." Isbell said that working at FAME Studios was "everything" to him, that it was "a gateway towards the music that he wanted to play". In addition to citing Neil Young as a big influence, Isbell is a fan of singer-songwriter Ben Howard and guitarist Blake Mills.


title: Jason Isbell

text: Isbell was previously married to Shonna Tucker, a fellow musician from the Muscle Shoals, Alabama community and a former bass player for Drive-By Truckers. Isbell and Tucker were married in 2002.


title: Jason Isbell

text: Isbell married singer-songwriter and violinist Amanda Shires, with whom he had worked on and off for a decade, in February 2013, two days after they finished "Southeastern." Musician Todd Snider officiated their wedding. The couple have a daughter.


title: Jason Isbell

text: In February 2012, Shires, Isbell's manager Traci Thomas, and Ryan Adams initiated an intervention, leading to Isbell entering a rehabilitation treatment program at Cumberland Heights in Nashville. Isbell has discussed getting sober extensively, saying he drank Jack Daniel's and did cocaine during his time with Drive-By Truckers in his late 20s—a time he does not remember very clearly. "Southeastern", Isbell's 2013 solo album, is reflective of his newfound sober lifestyle.


title: Jason Isbell

text: Isbell has a tattoo on the inside of his left arm with a quotation from the lyrics of the Bob Dylan song "Boots of Spanish Leather". He said that the quote "reminds him about the idea of salvaging things", that for him it "evokes the idea of loss as well as learning and growing from the experience". During the 2015 Newport Folk Festival, Isbell cited Dylan as a huge influence on his writing.


title: Jason Isbell

text: The Americana Music Honors & Awards celebrate outstanding achievement in the genre of Americana. Isbell has won nine awards out of 19 nominations.


title: Jason Isbell

text: The CMA Awards celebrate outstanding achievement in country music. Isbell has received one nomination.


title: Jason Isbell

text: The Daytime Emmy Awards are American accolades bestowed by the New York–based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in recognition of excellence in American daytime television programming. Isbell has received one nomination.


title: Jason Isbell

text: The Grammy Awards celebrate outstanding achievement in music. Isbell has won 4 awards out of 4 nominations.


title: Jason Isbell

text: The UK Americana Awards celebrate the best roots music released in the UK and internationally. Isbell has received two nominations.


title: Sarkar (2018 film)

text: Sarkar () is a 2018 Indian Tamil-language political action film written and directed by A. R. Murugadoss, and produced by Kalanithi Maran of Sun Pictures. The dialogues were co-written by Murugadoss and B. Jeyamohan. The film stars Vijay, Keerthy Suresh and Varalaxmi Sarathkumar while Yogi Babu, Radha Ravi, and Pala. Karuppiah play supporting roles. It follows Sundar Ramaswamy, an NRI who arrives in India from US to cast his vote in the election, only to find that his vote has already been recorded as cast. Sundar raises awareness against electoral fraud among the masses and decides to contest as a non-partisan politician in the elections amidst several attempts made on his life and reputation.


title: Sarkar (2018 film)

text: Principal photography for "Sarkar" began in January 2018. Murugadoss collaborated with Vijay for a third time with "Sarkar", which was the latter's 62nd film and given the tentative title of "Thalapathy 62". In early December 2017, Sun Pictures agreed to produce the film. While Girish Gangadharan handled the cinematography, A. Sreekar Prasad served as the editor. In August, a few scenes were shot at Las Vegas. Filming was completed by September 2018. The film's soundtrack was composed by A. R. Rahman with lyrics written by Vivek.


title: Sarkar (2018 film)

text: After various complications, including protests and allegations of plagiarism, "Sarkar" was released on 6 November 2018, during the week of Diwali. It received mixed reviews from critics and audience. Post-release, the film involved in controversies with reference to J. Jayalalithaa in the audio track and other sequences from the film led to protests by members of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. After lawsuits were registered against the makers, the said allusions were muted. "Sarkar" has grossed () worldwide in its entire run, and emerged as a commercial success.


title: Sarkar (2018 film)

text: "Sarkar" became Vijay's third film to collect $1 million at the US box office, following "Theri" and "Mersal". As a result of the film's success, the Election Commission of India created awareness regarding Section 49P of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 that allows a voter to have the right to get back his/her ballot back and vote if someone else voted in that individual's name. Sarkar was screened at Grand Rex, France. It was also screened in Japan.


title: Sarkar (2018 film)

text: Sundar Ramaswamy is a highly successful NRI businessman based in US, referred to as a "corporate monster" due to his ruthless business dealings. He arrives in Chennai to cast his vote in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election. However, he finds that someone else had already voted in his place. Sundar approaches the Tamil Nadu State Election Commission and demands a stay on the election result for his constituency, an annulment of the fraud elector's vote, and the ability to legitimately cast his vote, to which they agree. He raises awareness among the public regarding fraud voting and finds that many people too faced a similar problem to his when trying to vote. M. Masilamani, the previous C.M of Tamil Nadu, is re-elected, his daughter Komalavalli, and fellow politician and brother Malarvannan "Rendu" celebrate.


title: Sarkar (2018 film)

text: Sundar visits his family, whilst rekindling with Nila, who is his brother's estranged sister-in-law. Meanwhile, Masilamani receives suitcases full of black money, as he discovers a journalist, Muthukumar, hiding inside the suitcase, to record evidence of his corruption, and Masilamani kills him and buries the case. Sundar's actions bring him into conflict Masilamani and Rendu. Although Masilamani's party wins the elections, the Election Commission annuls the result based on Sundar's plea to recount the votes, and fresh elections are scheduled to take place within the next 15 days. After many assassination attempts on him by Rendu's henchmen, Sundar decides to contest the election against Masilamani as an Independent candidate and resigns from his company to avoid any conflict-of-interest. Initially unpopular among the masses due to his corporate background, Sundar delivers a speech detailing his rise from a humble fisherman background to a businessman and his struggle from poverty to riches, gaining massive support.


title: Sarkar (2018 film)

text: Sundar and his supporters gatecrash an event involving the merger of Masilamani's party with the opposition. After Sundar confronts Masilamani regarding his silence on district-related issues, the police brutally beats up Sundar and his supporters. At this juncture, he realises that the entire political system in the state and country needs reform, so he decides to contest in all constituencies in Tamil Nadu along with his supporters. Sundar acquires video evidence wherein people who had attempted to expose Masilamani's corruption were killed under mysterious circumstances, and he plans to reveal it to the media to discredit Masilamani and have him arrested. Meanwhile, Masilamani's daughter Komalavalli, based in Canada, arrives in Chennai after finding out that her father and uncle have lost support due to Sundar. She decides to spoil Sundar's reputation and frame him as a corrupt and power-hungry person.


title: Sarkar (2018 film)

text: Komalavalli orchestrates a car accident, planting a case of money, which is stolen by a mysterious person, blaming Sundar for the accident, which causes him to lose considerable public support. She furthers her agenda by killing her father with an overdose of diabetic tablets so that her party will gain sympathy votes. These crimes ensure that Komalavalli, the new Chief Ministerial candidate for her party, would likely win the election. On Election Day, Twitter messages generated from Muthukumar allege that Sundar has stashed black money in various locations, which further degrades Sundar's reputation. However, unknown to anyone, the tweets were sent by Sundar himself, as Muthukumar was one of those activists killed by Masilamani. Further messages lead to Muthukumar's decomposed body being found, exposing Komalavalli's lies.


title: Sarkar (2018 film)

text: Meanwhile, Komalavalli finds out that her mother has decided to expose her role in Masilamani's death at the latter's memorial in front of the media later in the day. She arrives at the memorial with her henchmen to stop the expose, but Sundar subdues her henchmen, and her mother's confession is live-streamed, which ensures that the public support is back with Sundar. Sundar and his supporters win the election, while Komalavalli and Rendu are arrested for their various crimes. However, Sundar decides against becoming the Chief Minister, and instead chooses one of his supporters, an honest collector, to be the next Chief Minister.


title: Sarkar (2018 film)

text: Real-life activists such as Kalki Subramaniam, Piyush Manush and Fatima Babu made cameo appearances as themselves in the song "Oru Viral Puratchi".


title: Sarkar (2018 film)

text: Following the successful ventures, "Thuppakki" and "Kaththi", AR Murugadoss was confirmed to be the director of the 62nd film of actor Vijay. The project, tentatively titled "Thalapathy 62" (the working title as it is the 62nd film starring Vijay, who is known as Thalapathy among fans), was slated to enter production once Vijay completed "Mersal" and Murugadoss completed "Spyder". In early-December 2017, T. Santhanam was confirmed as the art director of the film, and following this, it was made official that Sun Pictures was producing the film. Girish Gangadharan was chosen in as the cinematographer. A. Sreekar Prasad, who had previously edited "Thuppakki" and "Kaththi", was the film's editor. B. Jeyamohan was recruited as writer, and shooting began in January 2018. The title "Sarkar" was revealed on 21 June 2018, ahead of Vijay's birthday.


title: Sarkar (2018 film)

text: In mid-November 2017, it was reported that actor Yogi Babu was in talks to play a role in the film, and actress Nayanthara was in talks to be the female lead. Jaswanth Khanna, son of comedian Ramesh Khanna, who had worked as an assistant director, made his acting debut with this film. Keerthy Suresh was later signed to play the female lead role, marking her second collaboration with Vijay after "Bairavaa" (2017). Varalaxmi Sarathkumar was also confirmed, playing a pivotal role.


title: Sarkar (2018 film)

text: Principal photography began in January 2018. The team had successfully completed the first and second schedules of the shoot, and they began their third schedule in Las Vegas in early August. Shooting wrapped in early September.


title: Sarkar (2018 film)

text: The music and score of the film are composed by A. R. Rahman with lyricist Vivek penning the songs. The full audio album was launched on 2 October 2018 at Sai Leo Muthu Auditorium, Sri Sai Ram Engineering College, Chennai. The album consists of five songs, all penned by lyricist Vivek. The team launched the very first single, "Simtaangaran", which received mixed reviews, on 24 September, followed by "Oru Viral Puratchi" on the last day of the same month of September, which too received positive reviews. The album in its entirety was made available for download in digital on 2 October. The promotional music event featured dance performances for the songs in the background. The soundtrack album was released and bagged under the Sony Music record label. After a few days, the single track was released.


title: Sarkar (2018 film)

text: "Sarkar" is Rahman's fourth collaboration with actor Vijay, after "Udhaya", "Azhagiya Tamil Magan", and "Mersal". The audio release event of the film was conducted in a much peculiar way, where for the very first time, the audience were given the privilege of launching the music album online by the means of the production company's website. The audio launch event held a live telecast aired on Sun TV, and on their exclusive paid service called SunNXT. Indiaglitz gave a 4 out of 5 star rating but cited: ""Sarkar" though rich in techno and electronic treatment, finds a winning combo with its amazing lyrics". Studioflicks mentioned "A mix of local and western flavour from A. R. Rahman", giving it a rating of 3.25 out of 5. Behindwoods gave it 2.75 out of 5 stars and stated: "A. R. Rahman goes full-on techno for "Sarkar" ".


title: Sarkar (2018 film)

text: The film's teaser was released on October 19, 2018 and gained one million views within one hour of its release and "broken several records and turned out to be the fastest promo video to touch the one million mark".


title: Sarkar (2018 film)

text: "Sarkar" was released on 6 November 2018, during the week of Diwali. The film released in an unprecedented way for a Tamil film by releasing on a Tuesday. The film opened in 3,400 screens worldwide. Additionally, the film released to the Tamil speaking Indian Diaspora in 80 countries with 1,200 international screens. The film's overseas distributors have ensured that the film releases in as many as new markets such as Poland, Mexico, Philippines, New Zealand, Ukraine, Russia, and several countries in the African continent. The Kerala fans of the actor erected a 175 feet tall cut-out of the actor, the tallest cut-out for a film actor in Kollam. After its theatrical premiere, the film was made available for streaming on Sun NXT and Netflix.


title: Sarkar (2018 film)

text: The film released on Diwali, and according to the trade trackers, it earned across Rupees 30 crore in Tamil Nadu on its opening day, beating . "Sarkar" has broken several collection records, including the one held by "Sanju" for overall collections and joined the 100 Crore Club within two days. "Sarkar" earnings in France was more than 20,000 admissions as of 15 November 2018. In Malaysia, the film earned () from the six-day opening weekend. The film grossed 2.37 crores in Chennai on the first day and 2.32 crores on the second day. The film grossed 243-253 crores in the total run at the box office.


title: Sarkar (2018 film)

text: Anusha Iyengar of "Times Now" gave the film a 3.5 out of 5 rating and said, "Vijay's performance is far better and mature than any of his other performances. Jeyamohan, the writer of the film, deserves all the credit here for writing dialogues that only Vijay can pull off with that kind of impact and power". "Sakshi Post" gave the film a 3.5 out of 5 rating saying, " Sarkar has all the makings of a commercial thriller. You will see Vijay's signature dialogues which are whistle worthy and scenes with Murugadoss trademark. The film contains all the ingredients of a masala entertainer and keeps you engaged through the movie. Vijay's role is powerful and leaves a mark, BGMs provide the perfect accompaniment while action scenes stand out. Keerthy and Varalaxmi deliver". "The Times of India" gave the movie a 3 out of 5 rating cited that Vijay carried the film in a smart, lengthy film that has a good message but lacks strong antagonists. "News18" was more critical of film and gave it a 1.5 out of 5 rating and said that the "Vijay's Film is the Glorification of a Politically Aspiring Actor. " While Sarkar cannot be faulted in direction or mounting with some great action sequences, the plot has been written only for Vijay. There is really no place for a second character. Even Keerthi Suresh, who was excellent as the South Indian actress Savithri in the biopic, Mahanati, is reduced to essaying a wide-eyed admirer of Ramaswamy. Others like Radha Ravi have also been relegated to the background.". "Ananda Vikatan" rated the film 40 out of 100.


title: Sarkar (2018 film)

text: Following release, the Government of Tamil Nadu accused the filmmakers and Vijay of inciting the people by targeting the ruling government in some scenes and defaming former chief minister J. Jayalalithaa by naming the main antagonist with her alleged original name Komalavalli. This led to numerous protests by AIADMK party cadre at theatres, where the film was screened, and vandalism of the banners of Vijay. AIADMK accused Sun Pictures, which is owned by Kalanithi Maran, who is the grand nephew of former Chief Minister Late Karunanidhi of DMK of targeting the government.


title: Sarkar (2018 film)

text: Several actors such as Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan supported the filmmakers by raising the voice against the oppression of freedom of speech. They cited that a film must not be scrutinised even after the censor of the film by the Censor Board. Following the threat of lawsuits from the government, the filmmakers accepted to cut the scenes and mute references of Komalavalli in the audio track.


title: Sarkar (2018 film)

text: In October 2018, writer Varun Rajendran accused Murugadoss of plagiarising "Sengol", a story that he had registered with the South Indian Film Writers Association in 2007. After K. Bhagyaraj, the head of the Association, concluded that "Sarkar"s script was not original, the matter was taken to court, where the judge directed both the parties to come up with an agreement for the scheduled release of the film. In the resulting agreement, the director admitted that the story of "Sarkar" was the same as of "Sengol" and that Sun Pictures agreed to thank Varun Rajendran and flash a message card for 30 seconds after the thank you note in the title card and also pay him as compensation.


title: Sarkar (2018 film)

text: As a result of the film's success, the Election Commission of India created awareness regarding Section 49P of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 that allows a voter to have the right to get back his/her ballot back and vote if someone else voted in that individual's name.


title: Sarkar (2018 film)

text: The Telugu film "Officer" was dubbed and released in Tamil as "Simtangaran" named after the song from the film.


title: Basmala

text: The Basmala (, ; also known by its incipit ; , "In the name of Allah"), or Tasmiyyah (Arabic: ), is the titular name of the Islamic phrase "In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful" (Arabic: , ). It is one of the most important phrases in Islam and is used by Muslims mostly before starting "good deeds" (for instance, during daily prayer) as well as beginning of most daily actions.


title: Basmala

text: It is used in over half of the constitutions of countries where Islam is the official religion or more than half of the population follows Islam, usually the first phrase in the preamble, including those of Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Maldives, Pakistan,


title: Basmala

text: It is the phrase recited before each chapter ("surah") of the Qur'anexcept for the ninth. Muslim disagreement over whether to include the Basmala within the Quranic text, reached consensus following the 1924 Cairo Edition, which included it as the first verse ("āyah") of Quran chapter 1 but otherwise included it as an unnumbered line of text preceding the other relevant 112 chapters.


title: Basmala

text: The Islamic "Basmala" appears to be related to earlier variants of the phrase appearing in Arabian inscriptions from the 5th and 6th centuries. In Arabic calligraphy, the "Basmala" is the most prevalent motif, even more so than the Shahadah.


title: Basmala

text: The traditional name for the phrase in Classical Arabic was Tasmiyah (). Other common phrases in Islam were also given their own names based on verb form 2 verbal nouns, including Tasbih () for ""Subhan Allah"", Tahmid () for ""Alhamdulillah"", Takbir () for ""Allahu Akbar"", Tahlil () for ""la ilaha illa Allah"", and Ta'awwudh () for the phrase ""I seek refuge with God from the pelted Satan"" (, ).


title: Basmala

text: The word "basmala" was derived from a slightly unusual procedure, in which the first four pronounced consonants of the phrase "bismi-llāhi..." were used to create a new quadriliteral root: b-s-m-l (). This quadriliteral root was used to derive the noun "basmala" and its related verb forms, meaning "to recite the "basmala"". The method of coining a quadriliteral name from the consonants of multiple words in a phrase is also used to create the name '"Hamdala" for "Alhamdulillah", instead of the traditional name of "Tahmid". The same procedure is also used to create the term Hawqala.


title: Basmala

text: According to Lane, " has the more intensive meaning, taken to include as objects of "sympathy" both the believer and the unbeliever, and may therefore be rendered as "the Compassionate";


title: Basmala

text: ", on the other hand, is taken to include as objects the believer in particular, may be rendered as "the Merciful" (considered as expressive of a constant attribute).


title: Basmala

text: In the Qur'an, the "Basmala" is usually numbered as the first verse of the first "sura", but, according to the view adopted by Al-Tabari, it precedes the first verse. Apart from the ninth "sura" ("At-Tawba"), Al-Qurtubi reported that the correct view is that the Basmala ignored at the beginning of At-Tawba because Gabriel did not refer to the "Basmala" in this "surah", another view, says that Muhammad died before giving a clarification if "At-Tawba" is part of Quran 8 ("al-ʾanfāl") or not. It occurs at the beginning of each subsequent "sura" of the Qur'an and is usually not numbered as a verse except at its first appearance at the start of the first "sura". The "Basmala" occurs as part of a "sura"'s text in verse 30 of the 27th "sura" ("An-Naml"), where it prefaces a letter from Sulayman to Bilqis, the Queen of Sheba.


title: Basmala

text: The "Basmala" is used extensively in everyday Muslim life, said as the opening of each action in order to receive blessing from God. Reciting the "Basmala" is a necessary requirement in the preparation of halal food.


title: Basmala

text: The three definite nouns of the Basmala—"Allah", "ar-Rahman" and "ar-Rahim"—correspond to the first three of the traditional 99 names of God in Islam. Both "ar-Rahman" and "ar-Rahim" are from the same triliteral root R-Ḥ-M, "to feel sympathy, or pity".


title: Basmala

text: The Basmala has a special significance for Muslims, who are to begin each task after reciting the verse. It is often preceded by Ta'awwudh.


title: Basmala

text: Jabir reported: I heard Messenger of Allah (saw) saying, "If a person mentions the Name of Allah upon entering his house or eating, Satan says, addressing his followers: 'You will find nowhere to spend the night and no dinner.' But if he enters without mentioning the Name of Allah, Satan says (to his followers); 'You have found (a place) to spend the night in,' and if he does not mention the Name of Allah at the time of eating, Satan says: 'You have found (a place) to spend the night in as well as food.'"


title: Basmala

text: Aisha reported: "The Prophet said, “When any of you wants to eat, he should mention the Name of God in the beginning (Bismillah). If he forgets to do it in the beginning, he should say "Bismillah awwalahu wa akhirahu" (I begin with the Name of God at the beginning and at the end)".


title: Basmala

text: Umaiyyah bin Makshi reported: "The Prophet was sitting while a man was eating food. That man did not mention the Name of God till only a morsel of food was left. When he raised it to his mouth, he said, "Bismillah awwalahu wa akhirahu". The Prophet smiled at this and said, "Satan had been eating with him but when he mentioned the Name of God, Satan vomited all that was in his stomach".


title: Basmala

text: Wahshi bin Harb reported: "Some of the Sahaba of the Prophet said, 'We eat but are not satisfied.' He said, 'Perhaps you eat separately.' The Sahaba replied in the affirmative. He then said, 'Eat together and mention the Name of God over your food. It will be blessed for you.'


title: Basmala

text: All that is contained in the revealed books is to be found in the Qur’an and all that is contained in the Qur’an is summed up in the surat al-fatihah ("The opening one") while this is in its turn contained in the formula Bismillahi-r-Rahmani-r-Rahim ("In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful").


title: Basmala

text: The basmalah is in essence contained in the first letter, Ba, and this again in its diacritical point, which thus symbolizes principal Unity.


title: Basmala

text: According to the standard Abjadi system of numerology, the total value of the letters of the Islamic Basmala, i.e. the phrase — is 786. This number has therefore acquired a significance in folk Islam and Near Eastern folk magic and also appears in many instances of pop-culture, such as its appearance in the 2006 song '786 All is War' by the band Fun^Da^Mental. A recommendation of reciting the basmala 786 times in sequence is recorded in Al-Buni. Sündermann (2006) reports that a contemporary "spiritual healer" from Syria recommends the recitation of the basmala 786 times over a cup of water, which is then to be ingested as medicine.


title: Basmala

text: It has also become common to abbreviate the phrase by typing "786", especially in online communication, and especially among South Asian Muslims.


title: Basmala

text: In Unicode, the Basmala is encoded as one ligature at code point U+FDFD in the Arabic Presentation Forms-A block.


title: Funny Girl (film)

text: Funny Girl is a 1968 American biographical musical comedy-drama film directed by William Wyler and written by Isobel Lennart, adapted from her book for the stage musical of the same title. It is loosely based on the life and career of Broadway and film star and comedienne Fanny Brice and her stormy relationship with entrepreneur and gambler Nicky Arnstein.


title: Funny Girl (film)

text: Produced by Brice's son-in-law, Ray Stark (and the first film by his company Rastar), with music and lyrics by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, the film stars Barbra Streisand (in her film debut reprising her Broadway role) as Brice and Omar Sharif as Arnstein, with a supporting cast featuring Kay Medford, Anne Francis, Walter Pidgeon, Lee Allen and Mae Questel.


title: Funny Girl (film)

text: A major critical and commercial success, "Funny Girl" became the highest-grossing film of 1968 in the United States and received eight Academy Award nominations. Streisand won Best Actress, tying with Katharine Hepburn ("The Lion in Winter"). In 2006, the American Film Institute ranked the film #16 on its list commemorating AFI's Greatest Movie Musicals. Previously it had ranked the film #41 in its 2002 list of AFI's 100 Years...100 Passions, the songs "People" and "Don't Rain on My Parade" at #13 and #46, respectively, in its 2004 list of AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs, and the line "Hello, gorgeous" at #81 in its 2005 list of AFI's 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes. "Funny Girl" is considered one of the greatest musical films ever made.


title: Funny Girl (film)

text: In 2016, "Funny Girl" was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the United States Library of Congress, and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.


title: Funny Girl (film)

text: Set in and around New York City just prior to and following World War I, the story opens with "Ziegfeld Follies" star Fanny Brice awaiting the return of husband Nicky Arnstein from prison, and then moves into an extended flashback focusing on their meeting and marriage.


title: Funny Girl (film)

text: Fanny is a stage-struck teenager who lands her first job in vaudeville. Her mother and her friend Mrs. Strakosh try to dissuade her from show business because Fanny is not the typical beauty ("If a Girl Isn't Pretty"). While rehearsing at a vaudeville theater, the boss complains about Fanny's unsynchronized performance and her appearance. Upon his decision to sack her, she perseveres ("I'm the Greatest Star"). With Eddie's help and encouragement, Fanny is given a part in a roller-skating act despite lacking roller-skating skills. Although the act turns into a big mess, the audience find it to be hilarious and cheer her ("Rollerskate Rag"). Fanny has her first performance, "I'd Rather Be Blue Over You (Than Happy With Somebody Else)". Following the debut, she meets the suave Nicky. Six months later, Fanny is hired to become a member of the "Ziegfeld Follies" – something she has always dreamt of. In the debut performance, she adds a comic twist to the supposedly romantic number, ending the number as a pregnant bride ("His Love Makes Me Beautiful"), which nearly results in Fanny getting fired from the "Follies", until the members of the Brice family come backstage to compliment her for her comic acts, which causes Ziegfeld to change his mind, telling her to do the same thing she did for every future performance. She meets Arnstein again, who accompanies her to the celebration at her home on Henry Street ("People").


title: Funny Girl (film)

text: One year later, Fanny is now the rising star of Broadway. She and Nicky meet again when she travels to Baltimore as a part of her tour. After having a romantic dinner at a swanky restaurant and declaring their feelings ("You Are Woman, I Am Man"), the pair become romantically involved. Instead of going to Chicago with the "Follies", Fanny decides to take another train to New York in order to be with Nicky ("Don't Rain on My Parade"). While traveling aboard the RMS "Berengaria", Nicky promises that if he could win a fortune by playing poker, then they could get married, which eventually comes true. They move into a mansion and have a daughter ("Sadie, Sadie"). Meanwhile, Fanny returns to Ziegfeld and the "Follies".


title: Funny Girl (film)

text: Nicky's various business ventures fail, causing him to lose a lot of money. Nicky being busy gambling and not showing up to Fanny's new play premiere ("Swan") makes her upset and the two have an argument. Fanny's mother, who has known about Nicky's corruption, advises Fanny to "love him less" and to "help him more". Refusing financial support from his wife, he becomes involved in a bonds scam and he gets caught by the authorities. Fanny receives the news about the imprisonment from Ziegfeld, who advises her not to leave the theater and go to court, which she resists, leaving the theater. At a court hearing, Nicky refuses to answer the charges, and is imprisoned for embezzlement for eighteen months. At the moment of the farewell, Nicky calling her "Funny Girl" leaves her feeling bitter ("Funny Girl"). Following Nick's release from prison, they agree to separate. She is heartbroken and claims that "I am his forever more" ("My Man").


title: Funny Girl (film)

text: Isobel Lennart originally wrote "Funny Girl" as a screenplay for a drama film entitled "My Man" for producer Ray Stark (whose mother-in-law was Fanny Brice). No studio was interested in the project, except for Vincent Donhue, who suggested turning it into a stage musical. Lennart consequently adapted her script for what eventually became a successful Broadway production starring Barbra Streisand.


title: Funny Girl (film)

text: Although she had not made any films, Streisand was Stark's first and only choice to portray Brice onscreen. "I just felt she was too much a part of Fanny, and Fanny was too much a part of Barbra to have it go to someone else," he said, but Columbia Pictures executives wanted Shirley MacLaine in the role instead. MacLaine and Streisand were good friends and shared a birthday; both actresses rolled their eyes at the idea. Stark insisted if Streisand were not cast, he would not allow a film to be made, and the studio agreed to his demand.


title: Funny Girl (film)

text: Mike Nichols, George Roy Hill, and Gene Kelly were considered to direct the film before Sidney Lumet was signed. After working on pre-production for six months, he left the project due to "creative differences" and was replaced by William Wyler, whose long and illustrious award-winning career never had included a musical film; he originally was assigned to direct "The Sound of Music". Wyler initially declined Stark's offer because he was concerned his significant hearing loss would affect his ability to work on a musical. After giving it some thought, he told Stark, "If Beethoven could write his "Eroica Symphony", then William Wyler can do a musical."


title: Funny Girl (film)

text: Streisand had never heard of Wyler, and when she was told he had won the Academy Award for Best Director for "Ben-Hur", she commented, "Chariots! How is he with people, like women? Is he any good with actresses?" In fact Wyler had directed "Roman Holiday" (1953) which won three Academy Awards including the Best Actress award for Audrey Hepburn who had been chosen by Wyler despite her relative obscurity at that time. As for Wyler, he said, "I wouldn't have done the picture without her." Her enthusiasm reminded him of Bette Davis, and he felt she "represented a challenge for me because she's never been in films, and she's not the usual glamour girl".


title: Funny Girl (film)

text: Styne wanted Frank Sinatra for the role of Nicky Arnstein, but the actor was willing to appear in the film only if the role was expanded and new songs were added for the character. Stark thought Sinatra was too old and preferred someone with more class like Cary Grant, even though Grant was eleven years older than Sinatra. Marlon Brando, Gregory Peck, Sean Connery, David Janssen, and James Garner were also considered. Egyptian Omar Sharif was cast to star opposite the Jewish Streisand after Wyler noticed him having lunch in the studio commissary. When the Six-Day War between Israel and Egypt broke out, studio executives considered replacing Sharif, but both Wyler and Streisand threatened to quit if they did. Later, the publication of a still depicting a love scene between Fanny and Nicky in the Egyptian press prompted a movement to revoke Sharif's citizenship. When asked about the controversy, Streisand replied, "You think Cairo got upset? You should see the letter I got from my Aunt Rose!" Anne Francis was cast in a new role as the lead chorine in the Ziegfeld Follies.


title: Funny Girl (film)

text: Choreographer Herbert Ross, who staged the musical numbers, had worked with Streisand in "I Can Get It for You Wholesale", her Broadway debut.


title: Funny Girl (film)

text: Rehearsals and pre-recording of the songs began in July 1967. During pre-recording, Streisand had demanded extensive retakes until she was satisfied with them, and on the set she continued to display her perfectionist nature, frequently arguing with Wyler about costumes and photography.


title: Funny Girl (film)

text: Principal photography began in August 1967 and was completed by December. Streisand's first scene took place at an abandoned rail depot in New Jersey where she just got off from the train and posing for the photographers. Filming was more difficult for Barbra than she thought because she had to do musical numbers multiple times for different camera angles. For the helicopter shot of "Don't Rain on My Parade", aerial photographer Nelson Tyler had to develop a special helicopter camera rig. Streisand allegedly had so many of her scenes with Anne Francis cut before the film's release that Francis sued to have her name removed from the credits, but lost. Streisand later claimed she never told Wyler to cut anything and the final film reflected his choices, not hers. Francis later said "I have no feud with Barbra. But doing that film was like "Gaslight". What infuriated me was the way they did things—never telling me, never talking to me, just cutting. I think they were afraid that if they were nice to me, Barbra would have been upset." Shooting for the musical number "My Man", which the original Fanny Brice made famous, took place at the end of the shooting phase. Sharif was present to help Streisand get emotional and build up sadness. The crew did at least ten takes. Also in that shoot, Stark thought the film would cost $8 million, which he deemed to be "half as much as any other big musical [...] and it will be twice as big."


title: Funny Girl (film)

text: Prior to release, Columbia Pictures produced 3 featurettes for publicity ― "This Is Streisand", "Barbra in Movieland" and "The Look of Funny Girl".


title: Funny Girl (film)

text: "Funny Girl" originally had 18 musical numbers in 160 minutes of film, 60 minutes of which are tuned. Arnstein used to have a solo called "Temporary Arrangement". Seven numbers from the original musical production were removed, while "Rollerskate Rag", "The Swan" and "Funny Girl" are composed specifically for Streisand and are unrelated to Brice.


title: Funny Girl (film)

text: "Funny Girl" premiered on September 18, 1968 at the Criterion Theatre in New York; whose ticket cost $100. It was Streisand's first premiere as a movie star, and she said she felt like a "kid with a plaything". The Hollywood premiere was held on October 9, 1968 at the Egyptian Theatre. Having grossed $24.9 million, "Funny Girl" was the highest-grossing film of 1968 in the United States.


title: Funny Girl (film)

text: The film holds a 94% approval rating on review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes, based on 47 reviews, with an average rating of 7.6/10. The website's critical consensus states: "[Barbra] Streisand elevates this otherwise rote melodramatic musical with her ultra-memorable star turn as Fanny Brice." On Metacritic, it has an 89 out of 100 rating, based on 7 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". Streisand was widely praised by critics, with "The New Yorker"s Pauline Kael calling it "A bravura performance ... As Fanny Brice, she has the wittiest comic inflections since the comediennes of the 30s; she makes written dialogue sound like inspired improvisation. ... Streisand's triumphant talent rides right over the film's weaknesses." In his review in "Chicago Sun-Times", Roger Ebert called Streisand "magnificent" and added, "She has the best timing since Mae West, and is more fun to watch than anyone since the young Katharine Hepburn. She doesn't actually sing a song at all; she acts it. She does things with her hands and face that are simply individual; that's the only way to describe them. They haven't been done before. She sings, and you're really happy you're there." But he thought "the film itself is perhaps the ultimate example of the roadshow musical gone overboard. It is over-produced, over-photographed and over-long. The second half drags badly. The supporting characters are generally wooden . . . That makes the movie itself kind of schizo. It is impossible to praise Miss Streisand too highly; hard to find much to praise about the rest of the film." Richard L. Coe of "The Washington Post" agreed that the film was "overdone," writing that Streisand was "her first-rate self" during the musical numbers and "probably is capable of more variety than this," but "is so carefully presented and limited that she and the picture become a long, drippy bore." Renata Adler of "The New York Times" wrote that "Streisand's talent is very poignant and strong," but that the film had "something a little condescending about it," with Wyler "treating Barbra rather fondly, improbably and even patronizingly," and concluded that "Miss Streisand doesn't need any of this."


title: Funny Girl (film)

text: "Variety" said Streisand makes "a marked impact" and continued, "The saga of the tragi-comedienne Fanny Brice of the ungainly mien and manner, charmed by the suave card-sharp Nicky Arnstein, is perhaps of familiar pattern, but it is to the credit of all concerned that it plays so convincingly."