query: Morgan Freeman is incapable of being part of The Lego Movie.

pos: Morgan Freeman Morgan Freeman ( born June 1 , 1937 ) is an American actor , producer and narrator . Freeman won an Academy Award in 2005 for Best Supporting Actor with Million Dollar Baby ( 2004 ) , and he has received Oscar nominations for his performances in Street Smart ( 1987 ) , Driving Miss Daisy ( 1989 ) , The Shawshank Redemption ( 1994 ) and Invictus ( 2009 ) . He has also won a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award .   Freeman has appeared in many other box office hits , including Glory ( 1989 ) , Robin Hood : Prince of Thieves ( 1991 ) , Seven ( 1995 ) , Deep Impact ( 1998 ) , The Sum of All Fears ( 2002 ) , Bruce Almighty ( 2003 ) , The Dark Knight Trilogy ( 2005 -- 2012 ) , The Lego Movie ( 2014 ) , and Lucy ( 2014 ) . He rose to fame as part of the cast of the 1970s children 's program The Electric Company . Morgan Freeman is ranked as the 4th highest box office star with over $ 4.316 billion total box office gross , an average of $ 74.4 million per film .

neg: Millennium Falcon The Millennium Falcon is a spaceship in the Star Wars universe commanded at one time by Corellian smuggler Han Solo ( Harrison Ford ) and his Wookiee first mate , Chewbacca ( Peter Mayhew ) . The highly modified Corellian Engineering Corporation ( CEC ) YT-1300 light freighter first appears in Star Wars ( 1977 ) , and subsequently in The Empire Strikes Back ( 1980 ) , Return of the Jedi ( 1983 ) and The Force Awakens ( 2015 ) . The ship also makes a brief cameo appearance in Revenge of the Sith ( 2005 ) . Additionally , the Falcon appears in a variety of Star Wars expanded universe materials , including books , comics , and games ; James Luceno 's novel Millennium Falcon focuses on the titular ship . It also appears in the 2014 animated film The Lego Movie in Lego form , with Billy Dee Williams and Anthony Daniels reprising their roles of Lando Calrissian and C-3PO , with Keith Ferguson voicing Han Solo .

neg: Lori McCreary Lori McCreary ( born in Antioch , California ) is an American motion picture producer and computer scientist . She is co-founder and CEO of the production company Revelations Entertainment , which she co-founded with actor Morgan Freeman .   McCreary graduated from UCLA with a degree in Computer Science . While still in college , she co-founded software company CompuLaw , now a part of Aderant .   McCreary 's appreciation for the stage play Bopha ! inspired her to go into motion picture production . Actor Morgan Freeman was signed to direct the film . Later , the pair partnered in the formation of Revelations Entertainment in 1996 with a mission to produce entertainment that reveals truth . As Revelations CEO , McCreary most recently produced The Magic of Belle Isle , directed by Rob Reiner . Before that , she produced Invictus , directed by Clint Eastwood , with Freeman starring in the long-awaited portrayal of Nelson Mandela and co-starring Matt Damon . In addition , she serves as the Executive Producer of Discovery Science 's Through the Wormhole With Morgan Freeman . Utilizing the latest work at NASA , the series explores how astrobiology , string theory , quantum mechanics and astrophysics are pushing the boundaries of our understanding of the universe .   McCreary 's additional producer credits include Mimi Leder 's Thick as Thieves with Antonio Banderas and The Maiden Heist starring Christopher Walken , William H. Macy , Marcia Gay Harden and Morgan Freeman . Revelations also co-produced Along Came a Spider for Paramount Pictures .   In July 2005 , Revelations Entertainment teamed with Intel to form a new digital entertainment company , ClickStar . ClickStar officially launched their site on December 15 , 2006 , where it was the first website to legally make a movie ( Revelation 's 10 Items or Less ) available for download while it was still in theaters .   McCreary sits on the Board of the Producers Guild of America and as of June 2014 , was elected President of the Producers Guild of America ( PGA ) along with Gary Lucchesi . McCreary still holds this post . She is the Founder of the PGA 's Motion Picture Technology Committee and sits on the Producers Council of the PGA and on the Technology Committee of the American Society of Cinematographers . She is also a member of The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers ( SMPTE ) and The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers , Inc. ( IEEE ) . In addition , she was profiled by The Hollywood Reporter in its 100 Most Powerful Women in Hollywood issue .

neg: G-Force (film) G-Force is a 2009 American family comedy adventure film produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films . Written by Cormac Wibberley and Marianne Wibberley and directed by Hoyt Yeatman , the film is the directorial debut of Hoyt Yeatman , whose earlier work includes contributions in the area of visual effects . It was released in the United States on July 24 , 2009 . G-Force is based on a story also by Hoyt Yeatman . The film was shown in competing 3-D technologies like Dolby 3D . This is also Jerry Bruckheimer 's first 3-D film . The movie stars Zach Galifianakis , Bill Nighy , and Will Arnett and it features the voices of Sam Rockwell , Tracy Morgan , Penélope Cruz , Nicolas Cage , Steve Buscemi , and Jon Favreau . The film received generally negative reviews , with critics praising its action , but criticizing its plot and character development and it earned $ 292.8 million on a $ 150 million budget .

neg: Mission: Impossible 2 Mission : Impossible 2 ( stylized as M : I-2 ) is a 2000 American action spy film directed by John Woo and starring Tom Cruise , who also served as the film 's producer . It is the second installment in the Mission : Impossible film series . In the film , Ethan Hunt is recruited by the Impossible Missions Force ( IMF ) to find and destroy a dangerous biological weapon called `` Chimera '' from a rogue IMF agent named Sean Ambrose with the help of his new girlfriend , Nyah Nordoff-Hall . .   Mission : Impossible 2 was released in theaters worldwide on May 24 , 2000 . It grossed more than $ 546.4 million worldwide , becoming the highest grossing film of 2000 . But the critical response was mixed ; praise was directed at Tom Cruise 's performance and the action sequences , but the plot and dialogue were criticized .

neg: List of accolades received by Star Wars: The Force Awakens Star Wars : The Force Awakens is a 2015 epic space opera film directed , co-produced , and co-written by J. J. Abrams . The seventh installment in the main Star Wars film series , and first of three in Star Wars sequel trilogy , it stars Harrison Ford , Mark Hamill , Carrie Fisher , Adam Driver , Daisy Ridley , John Boyega , Oscar Isaac , Lupita Nyong ` o , Andy Serkis , Domhnall Gleeson , Anthony Daniels , and Max von Sydow . The Force Awakens is set 30 years after Return of the Jedi ; it follows Rey , Finn , and Poe Dameron 's search for Luke Skywalker and their fight alongside the Resistance , led by veterans of the Rebel Alliance , against Kylo Ren and the First Order , a successor group to the Galactic Empire .   The Force Awakens was premiered by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures in Los Angeles on December 14 , and was released in United States and Canada on December 18 , 2015 . The Force Awakens opened across 14,300 theaters , breaking numerous box-office records and became the first film to earn more than $ 100 million worldwide in a single day . The film grossed a worldwide total of over $ 2 billion on a production budget of $ 306 million becoming the highest-grossing release of 2015 , and the fastest film to earn $ 1 billion worldwide , doing so in twelve-days . The Force Awakens became the third film in history to surpass $ 2 billion worldwide ( after Avatar ( 2009 ) and Titanic ( 1997 ) ) , doing so on its 53rd day of release .   Rotten Tomatoes , a review aggregator , surveyed 360 reviews and judged 92 percent to be positive . The Force Awakens garnered many awards and nominations in a variety of categories with particular praise for Abrams ' direction , its action sequences , visual effects , editing and Ridley 's and Boyega 's performances . Several awards held their nominations before the December release of The Force Awakens , making the film ineligible for the 73rd Golden Globe Awards and some other awards ceremonies . However , the film was added to the 21st Critics ' Choice Awards 's slate of best picture nominees after a special vote by the board of directors , and the announcement of the 2015 American Film Institute Awards was delayed until after the release of film , where it was named one of Top Ten Films of the year .   The Force Awakens received five nominations at the 88th Academy Awards as Best Original Score , Best Sound Editing , Best Sound Mixing , Best Film Editing and Best Visual Effects . The film garnered four nominations at 69th British Academy Film Awards , and won for Best Special Visual Effects and a special BAFTA Rising Star Award for John Boyega . At the 21st Empire Awards , the film received nine nominations and won five including Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film , and Best Director for J.J. Abrams . The Force Awakens became the most nominated film in Saturn Awards history with total of thirteen nominations at 42nd Saturn Awards and won eight including Best Science Fiction Film , Best Director and Best Special Effects . The film received seven nominations from the Visual Effects Society , winning four including Outstanding Visual Effects in an Effects Driven Feature Motion Picture . Star Wars : The Force Awakens received eleven nominations at MTV Movie Awards , the most for the ceremony and won three including Movie of the Year .

neg: Lego Friends (2013 video game) Lego Friends is a Lego-themed life simulation video game developed by Hellbent Games and published by Warner Bros. . Interactive Entertainment . The game was first released for Nintendo 3DS systems on 12 November 2013 , and for Nintendo DS systems on 8 April 2014 . The game was later ported to and released for Android and iOS devices on 31 July 2014 . The game is based on the Lego Friends theme of the same name and adapts many of the characters and settings from it .

neg: Toy Story (franchise) Toy Story is a computer animated film series and Disney media franchise that began with the original 1995 film , Toy Story , produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures . The franchise is based on the anthropomorphic concept that all toys , unknown to humans , are secretly alive , and the films focus on a diverse group of toys that feature a classic cowboy , Sheriff Woody , and modern spaceman , Buzz Lightyear . The group unexpectedly embark on adventures that challenge and change them .   The first two films of the franchise were directed by John Lasseter , and the third by Lee Unkrich , who acted as the co-director of the second film ( together with Lasseter and Ash Brannon ) . Lasseter will return to direct the upcoming fourth film .   All three films , produced on a total budget of $ 320 million , have grossed more than $ 1.9 billion worldwide . Each film set box office records , with the third included in the top 15 all time worldwide films . Critics have given all three films extremely positive reviews . Special Blu-ray and DVD editions of Toy Story and Toy Story 2 were released on March 23 , 2010 . They were also re-released in theaters as a Disney Digital 3-D `` double feature '' for at least two weeks in October 2009 .   The series is the 24th highest-grossing franchise worldwide , the fifth highest-grossing animated franchise ( behind Shrek , Ice Age , Despicable Me and Madagascar ) , and is among the most critically acclaimed trilogies of all time . On November 1 , 2011 , all three Toy Story films were released in Disney Blu-ray 3D as a trilogy pack and as individual films .

neg: Tron Tron is a 1982 American science fiction action-adventure film written and directed by Steven Lisberger , based on a story by Lisberger and Bonnie MacBird and produced by Walt Disney Productions . The film stars Jeff Bridges as a computer programmer who is transported inside the software world of a mainframe computer where he interacts with programs in his attempt to escape . Bruce Boxleitner , David Warner , Cindy Morgan , and Barnard Hughes star in supporting roles .   Development of Tron began in 1976 when Lisberger became fascinated with the early video game Pong . He and producer Donald Kushner set up an animation studio to develop Tron with the intention of making it an animated film . Indeed , to promote the studio itself , Lisberger and his team created a 30-second animation featuring the first appearance of the eponymous character . Eventually , Lisberger decided to include live-action elements with both backlit and computer animation for the actual feature-length film . Various film studios had rejected the storyboards for the film before Walt Disney Studios agreed to finance and distribute Tron . There , backlit animation was finally combined with the computer animation and live action .   Tron was released on July 9 , 1982 in 1,091 theaters in the United States . The film was a moderate success at the box office , and received positive reviews from critics who praised the groundbreaking visuals and acting . However , the storyline was criticized at the time for being incoherent . Tron received nominations for Best Costume Design and Best Sound at the 55th Academy Awards , and received the Academy Award for Technical Achievement fourteen years later . Over time , Tron developed into a cult film and eventually spawned a franchise , which consists of multiple video games , comic books and an animated television series . A sequel titled Tron : Legacy directed by Joseph Kosinski was released on December 17 , 2010 , with Bridges and Boxleitner reprising their roles , and Lisberger acting as producer .

neg: Wanted (2008 film) Wanted is a 2008 American-German action thriller film loosely based on the comic book miniseries of the same name by Mark Millar and J. G. Jones . The film , written by Chris Morgan , Michael Brandt , and Derek Haas and directed by Timur Bekmambetov stars James McAvoy , Morgan Freeman , and Angelina Jolie . The storyline follows Wesley Gibson ( McAvoy ) , a frustrated account manager who discovers that he is the son of a professional assassin and decides to join the Fraternity , a secret society in which his father worked .   Universal Studios acquired the adaptation rights from Millar in 2004 , and while the eventual script drifted from the comic book supervillain mythos in the original miniseries , Millar was content to see most of the comic 's darker content was retained . Production began in April 2007 , with filming in the Czech Republic , Budapest , and the story 's main setting , Chicago . Wanted was released in June 2008 to both critical and commercial success , with box office earnings of $ 341 million worldwide and reviews praising the fast pacing and stylized action scenes . A sequel was planned the same year as the film 's release , but ultimately stalled in the development phase .

neg: Skyfall Skyfall is the 23rd James Bond film produced by Eon Productions and released in 2012 . It features Daniel Craig in his third performance as James Bond , and Javier Bardem as Raoul Silva , the film 's villain . It was directed by Sam Mendes and written by Neal Purvis , Robert Wade and John Logan , and features an Academy Award-winning theme , sung by Adele . It was distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer ( MGM ) and Columbia Pictures .   The story centres on Bond investigating an attack on MI6 ; the attack is part of a plot by former MI6 agent Raoul Silva to humiliate , discredit and kill M as revenge against her for betraying him . The film sees the return of two recurring characters to the series after an absence of two films : Q , played by Ben Whishaw , and Moneypenny , played by Naomie Harris . Skyfall is the last film of the series for Judi Dench , who played M , a role that she had played in the previous six films . The position is subsequently filled by Ralph Fiennes ' character , Gareth Mallory , though Dench would make a brief appearance in the next Bond film , Spectre .   Mendes was approached to direct the film after the release of Quantum of Solace in 2008 . Development was suspended when MGM encountered financial troubles and did not resume until December 2010 ; during this time , Mendes remained attached to the project as a consultant . The original screenwriter , Peter Morgan , left the project during the suspension . When production resumed , Logan , Purvis , and Wade continued writing what became the final version of the script . Filming began in November 2011 and primarily took place in the United Kingdom , with smaller portions shot in China and Turkey .   Skyfall premiered in London at the Royal Albert Hall on 23 October 2012 and was released in the United Kingdom on 26 October 2012 and the United States on 9 November 2012 . It was the first James Bond film to be screened in IMAX venues , although it was not filmed with IMAX cameras . The film 's release coincided with the 50th anniversary of the series , which began with Dr. No in 1962 . Skyfall was positively received by critics , being praised for its performances -- particularly those of Craig , Bardem and Dench -- writing and script , cinematography , Mendes ' direction , Thomas Newman 's score , and the action scenes . It was the 14th film to gross over $ 1 billion worldwide , and the first Bond film to do so . It became the seventh-highest-grossing film at the time , the highest-grossing film in the UK , the highest-grossing film in the series , the highest-grossing film worldwide for both Sony Pictures and MGM , and the second-highest-grossing film of 2012 . The film won several accolades , including two BAFTA Awards , two Academy Awards and two Grammys .

neg: List of Bionicle toys The following is a list of toys in Lego Bionicle line . They are organized by North American release dates ; major differences in international releases are noted , America and Europe being one of the first to receive them .   There are five main kinds of sets :  Collectibles are random assortments of pieces to be used as accessories for larger sets . New collectibles were originally released every six months , but were reduced to a yearly schedule as of 2004 . Collectibles are no longer released as of 2007 .  Box Sets are the smallest and cheapest independent sets . Though most sets are packaged in cardboard boxes , this article will use the term to describe these small sets . A group of six box sets were released yearly , though in 2007 there were only four . In 2008 , 6 of these were released to correspond with the canister sets , though the boxes themselves were similar to canisters . Box sets contain from around 15 pieces to about 30 .  Canister Sets are the main focus in the toyline and the storyline , and are packaged in plastic canisters . Groups of six canister sets are released every six months . Canister sets usually contain around 50 , 60 or 70 pieces .  Titans was a term first used for the 2005 large sets , and fans often use the label for similar large character sets . In this article , it will be used to describe any set larger than a canister set ( besides playsets ) . Most Titans contain more than 100 pieces , though larger ones contain at least 200 or 500 .  ( Note : The 2007 -- 2009 sets are labeled `` Warriors '' on Bionicle.com . For the time being , this article will continue to use the `` Titan '' label . )  Battle Vehicles are the newest types of sets . They feature canister-set-sized characters on a larger vehicle . They were introduced in 2008 and replaced Playsets . They can be classified as a type of Titan . A few Battle Vehicle sets are about the size and cost of normal titans , however these sets are considerably smaller in size and have Box Set size figures in place of the Canister-size figures . One exception to this is the Toa Ignika set , which contained a vehicle and a Canister-sized set as the rider while still maintaining the normal titan cost . However , the skyboard ( the corresponding vehicle ) is considerably smaller than even other `` normal titan '' vehicles .  Playsets were introduced in 2005 and are traditional Lego construction sets ; including minifigures of canister set characters . In 2008 these have been replaced with Battle Vehicle sets ( see above ) .  Stars were canister sets in early 2010 that contained Box Set size counterparts of characters from previous years . Each contained a piece of golden armor that would fit onto the Tahu set within that particular toyline .   There are also two kinds of other sets :  This list also includes specific promotions ; either items packaged with sets or special collectibles available separately . Promotional sets that are officially not part of the toyline are not included , unless they are acknowledged by the storyline . Promotional Bionicle sets are usually under ten pieces and are free .   Other models are not categorized in any of the above . Other models includes a few Bionicle pieces , and sometimes a CD or video . Their prices vary widely . Most other models were released in Europe or America .   Releases are grouped in this list into six-month periods , the beginnings of which are marked by when canister sets are released ; usually around January for winter periods and July for summer periods ( though due to retail schedules , European `` winter '' releases begin around March instead ) .   Some sets are labeled `` store exclusive '' ; they are only available at that store and directly through Lego ( both Lego outlet stores and the Lego Shop At Home website ) , such as an unnumbered set of random Bionicle parts in a plastic bag .

neg: 38th Saturn Awards The 38th Saturn Awards , honoring the best in science fiction , fantasy and horror film and television in 2011 , were held on July 26 , 2012 in Burbank , California . The awards are presented by the Academy of Science Fiction , Fantasy and Horror Films .   The six Best Film Award categories were respectively won by Rise of the Planet of the Apes ( Science Fiction ) , Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -- Part 2 ( Fantasy ) , The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo ( Horror or Thriller ) , Mission : Impossible -- Ghost Protocol ( Action or Adventure ) , The Skin I Live In ( International ) and Puss in Boots ( Animated ) . Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Super 8 led the winners with three each .   In the television categories , Breaking Bad won three of its six nominations , including Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series . Fringe , The Walking Dead and Teen Wolf won the other Best Series Awards .   Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -- Part 2 became the first Harry Potter film to win Best Fantasy Film , for which the seven previous Harry Potter films were nominated , and only the second film of the series to win a Saturn Award , following The Philosopher 's Stone which won Best Costume in 2001 . Mission : Impossible -- Ghost Protocol also became the first Mission : Impossible film to win Best Action or Adventure Film , following the nominations of the first and third installments .

neg: Film series A film series ( also referred to as a film franchise ) is a collection of related films in succession that share the same fictional universe , or are marketed as a series .   Sometimes the work is conceived from the beginning as a multiple-film work , for example the Three Colours series , but in most cases the success of the original film inspires further films to be made . Individual sequels are relatively common , but are not always successful enough to spawn further installments .   The Marvel Cinematic Universe is the highest grossing film series in unadjusted US Dollar figures surpassing the Harry Potter , Star Wars , James Bond , and Peter Jackson 's The Lord of the Rings series . However , `` Star Wars '' has the highest when adjusted for inflation .

neg: Joshua Gomez Joshua Eli Gomez ( born November 20 , 1975 ) is an American actor best known for his role as Morgan Grimes on Chuck . He is the younger brother of actor Rick Gomez .   Gomez appeared in a recurring role in the CBS series Without a Trace as computer tech James Mackeroy . He appeared in a series of IBM commercials , a series of Wendy 's commercials ( Ranch Tooth ) , and a commercial for Garmin . He also made a cameo on Freddy 's Nightmares . He played Sammy Stinger in Bring It On Again , 2004 .   As a voice actor , Gomez played Baralai in the video game Final Fantasy X-2 , opposite his brother Rick 's character , Gippal , and as Parker in Turok . He also had a small part at the beginning of BioShock as Johnny .   In September 2007 , he began starring in the NBC series Chuck as the title character 's friend , Morgan Grimes . Gomez is friends with Chuck co-star , Zachary Levi , in real life .   Joshua was nominated for Outstanding Male Performance in the Comedy Television Series at the 2008 ALMA Awards .

neg: Set piece In film production , a set piece is a scene or sequence of scenes whose execution requires serious logistical planning and considerable expenditure of money . The term set piece is often used more broadly to describe any important dramatic or comedic highpoint in a film or story , particularly those that provide some kind of dramatic payoff , resolution , or transition . Thus the term is often used to describe any scenes that are so essential to a film that they can not be edited out or skipped in the shooting schedule without seriously damaging the integrity of the finished product . Often , screenplays are written around a list of such set pieces , particularly in high-budget `` event movies '' .   Set pieces are very often planned meticulously using storyboards , screentests , and rehearsals , in contrast to smaller scenes where the director and actors may be more improvisational . Each action requires the combined efforts of different departments : set builders , physical effects , and special visual effects . On most films , different groups of people will work on different set pieces individually since they can take a long time to prepare before shooting . For example , the car chase in The Matrix Reloaded took months to prepare and cost $ 30 million , including $ 5 million to build the freeway set .

neg: Villa Capri Villa Capri is an upcoming American action comedy film directed and written by Ron Shelton . The film stars Morgan Freeman , Tommy Lee Jones , Rene Russo and Elizabeth Ashley . It is scheduled for release by Broad Green Pictures on November 22 , 2017 .

neg: Lego Universe Lego Universe was a massively multiplayer online game and was available from October 2010 to February 2012 . The game was developed by NetDevil and released on October 26 , 2010 , with an early opening ( October 8 , 2010 ) for the to-be Lego `` Founders '' , which consisted of users who pre-ordered the game . It was globally distributed by Warner Bros. . Interactive Entertainment . Its release was delayed from original estimates of 2009 , Teasers were released by Lego in 2007 and late November 2008 to promote the game , and also in 2009 for one last promotion . The game was available in English and German . The servers were shut down permanently on January 30 , 2012 due to ` unsatisfactory revenue ' from within the game 's target audience .

neg: Object animation Object animation is a form of stop motion animation that involves the animated movements of any non-drawn objects such as toys , blocks , dolls , etc. which are not fully malleable , such as clay or wax , and not designed to look like a recognizable human or animal character .   Object animation is considered a different form of animation distinct from model animation and puppet animation , as these two forms of stop-motion animation usually use recognizable characters as their subjects , rather than just objects like static toy soldiers , or construction toys such as Tinker Toys , LEGO brand bricks ( Brickfilm ) , Lincoln Logs , Erector Sets , Playmobil , etc. .   Object animation is often combined with other forms of animation , typically for a more realistic effect ( e.g. , Model Animation or Puppet Animation to add more complex movement or depth to the characters ) . For example , a toy car can be animated without a driver , but is more often animated with a character easily seen driving the car .   The use of animated objects in film has been present since the early days of cinema .   An example of modern object animation can be seen on Robot Chicken , part of the regular Adult Swim block on Cartoon Network , which combines object animation with a variation of puppet animation , in this case the puppets are made to resemble plastic action figures from various TV shows , movies , and pop culture .

neg: Major film studio A major film studio is a production and film distributor that releases a substantial number of films annually and consistently commands a significant share of box office revenue in a given market . In the North American , Western , and global markets , the major film studios , often simply known as the majors , are commonly regarded as the six diversified media conglomerates whose various film production and distribution subsidiaries collectively command approximately 80 to 85 percent of U.S. and Canadian box office revenue . The term may also be applied more specifically to the primary motion picture business subsidiary of each respective conglomerate .   The `` Big Six '' majors , whose operations are based in or around the Los Angeles neighborhood of Hollywood , are all centered in film studios active during Hollywood 's Golden Age of the 1930s and 1940s . In three cases -- 20th Century Fox , Warner Bros. , and Paramount -- the studios were one of the `` Big Five '' majors during that era as well . In two cases -- Columbia and Universal -- the studios were also considered majors , but in the next tier down , part of the `` Little Three '' . In the sixth case , Walt Disney Studios was an independent production company during the Golden Age ; it was an important Hollywood entity , but not a major . Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer , United Artists , and RKO were majors .   Today , Disney is the only member of the Big Six whose parent entity is still located near Los Angeles ( actually , on Disney 's studio lot and in the same building ) . The five others report to conglomerates headquartered in New York City , Philadelphia , and Tokyo . Of the Big Six , Paramount is the only one still based in Hollywood , and Paramount and Fox are the only ones still located within the Los Angeles city limits , while Disney and Warner Bros. are located in Burbank , Columbia in Culver City , and Universal in the unincorporated area of Universal City .   Most of today 's Big Six control subsidiaries with their own distribution networks that concentrate on arthouse pictures ( e.g. Fox Searchlight Pictures ) or genre films ( e.g. Sony 's Screen Gems ) ; several of these specialty units were shut down or sold off between 2008 and 2010 . The six major studios are contrasted with smaller production and/or distribution companies , which are known as independents or `` indies '' . The leading independent producer/distributors -- Lionsgate Films , The Weinstein Company , and former major studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer -- are sometimes referred to as `` mini-majors '' . From 1998 through 2005 , DreamWorks SKG commanded a large enough market share to arguably qualify it as a seventh major , despite its relatively small output . In 2006 , DreamWorks was acquired by Viacom , Paramount 's corporate parent . In late 2008 , DreamWorks once again became an independent production company ; its films were distributed by Disney 's Touchstone Pictures until 2016 , at which point distribution switched to Universal .   The Big Six major studios are today primarily backers and distributors of films whose actual production is largely handled by independent companies -- either long-running entities or ones created for and dedicated to the making of a specific film . The specialty divisions often simply acquire distribution rights to pictures in which the studio has had no prior involvement . While the majors still do a modicum of true production , their activities are focused more in the areas of development , financing , marketing , and merchandising . Those business functions are still usually performed in or near Los Angeles , even though the runaway production phenomenon means that most films are now mostly or completely shot on location at places outside Los Angeles .   Since the dawn of filmmaking , the U.S. major film studios have dominated both American cinema and the global film industry . U.S. studios have benefited from a strong first-mover advantage in that they were the first to industrialize filmmaking and master the art of mass-producing and distributing high-quality films with broad cross-cultural appeal . Today , the Big Six majors routinely distribute hundreds of films every year into all significant international markets ( that is , where discretionary income is high enough for consumers to afford to watch films ) . It is very rare , if not impossible , for a film to reach a broad international audience on multiple continents and in multiple languages without first being picked up by one of the majors for distribution .

neg: Unfinished Business (2015 film) Unfinished Business is a 2015 American comedy film directed by Ken Scott and written by Steven Conrad . The film stars Vince Vaughn , Tom Wilkinson , Dave Franco , Sienna Miller , Nick Frost , and James Marsden . It was released on March 6 , 2015 . The film received negative reviews and was a box office bomb .


query: Kenny Rogers released the song, The Gambler.

pos: Kenny Rogers Kenneth Ray Rogers ( born August 21 , 1938 ) is an American singer , songwriter , actor , record producer , and entrepreneur . He is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame .   Though he has been most successful with country audiences , Rogers has charted more than 120 hit singles across various music genres , topped the country and pop album charts for more than 200 individual weeks in the United States alone and has sold over 100 million records worldwide , making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time . On September 25 , 2015 , Rogers announced on NBC 's Today Show that he was retiring from show business after a final tour to spend more time with his wife and twin boys .   Two of his albums , The Gambler and Kenny , are featured in the About.com poll of `` The 200 Most Influential Country Albums Ever '' . He was voted the `` Favorite Singer of All-Time '' in a 1986 joint poll by readers of both USA Today and People . He has received numerous such awards as the AMAs , Grammys , ACMs and CMAs , as well as a lifetime achievement award for a career spanning six decades in 2003 .   Later success includes the 2006 album release , Water & Bridges , an across the board hit , that hit the Top 5 in the Billboard Country Albums sales charts , also charting in the Top 15 of the Billboard 200 . The first single from the album , `` I Ca n't Unlove You , '' was also a sizable chart hit . Remaining a popular entertainer around the world , the following year he completed a tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland , telling BBC Radio 2 DJ Steve Wright his favorite hit was `` The Gambler '' . He has also acted in a variety of movies and television shows , most notably the title roles in Kenny Rogers as The Gambler and the MacShayne series as well as his appearance on The Muppet Show . He is also a co-founder of the restaurant chain Kenny Rogers Roasters .

pos: The Gambler (album) The Gambler is the sixth studio album by Kenny Rogers , released by United Artists in 1978 . One of his most popular , it has established Rogers ' status as one of the most successful artists of the 1970s and 1980s . The album reached many markets around the world , such as the Far East and Jamaica , with Rogers later commenting `` When I go to Korea or Hong Kong people say ` Ah , the gambler ! ' '' ( as per the sleeve notes to the 1998 released box set `` Through the Years '' on Capitol Records ) . The album has sold over 35 million copies .   The title track `` The Gambler '' was written by Don Schlitz , who was the first to record it . It was also covered by several other artists , but it was Kenny Rogers ' adaptation of the tale that went on to top the country charts and win a Song of the Year Grammy , later becoming Rogers ' signature song . Although Johnny Cash recorded the song first , Kenny Rogers 's version was released first . Both this song and `` She Believes in Me '' became pop music hits , helping Rogers become well-known beyond country music circles . Although largely compiled from songs by some of the music business 's top songwriters , such as Alex Harvey , Mickey Newbury and Steve Gibb , Rogers continued to show his own talent for songwriting with `` Morgana Jones '' . The album was produced by Larry Butler .   Its popularity has led to many releases over the years . After United Artists was absorbed into EMI/Capitol in 1980 , `` The Gambler '' was reissued on vinyl and cassette on the Liberty Records label . Several years later , Liberty issued an abridged version of the album , removing the track `` Morgana Jones '' . EMI Manhattan Records released `` The Gambler '' on CD in the 1980s . An ` Original Master Recording ' from Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs was released on vinyl ( audiophile edition vinyl ) . Finally , `` The Gambler '' was released on Rogers ' own Dreamcatcher Records in 2001 as part of the Kenny Rogers `` Original Masters Series . ''   In Britain , both the title cut and the album did very well in the country market , but both failed to reach the top 40 of the pop charts . In the 1980s the single of `` The Gambler '' was re-issued and made the top 100 sales list , but again charted outside the top 40 . It was n't until the song was re-issued in 2007 that it charted at its # 22 peak .   Additionally , `` I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again '' was later a single in 1986 for T. Graham Brown , whose version went to # 3 on the country charts .

neg: For You (Kenny Lattimore song) `` For You '' is a song by Kenny Lattimore , issued as the third single from his eponymous debut album . The song is his only hit to date on the Billboard Hot 100 , peaking at # 33 in 1997 .

neg: Johnny Cash (disambiguation) Johnny Cash was an American singer-songwriter , actor , and author .   Johnny Cash may also refer to :  `` Johnny Cash '' ( song ) , a country song first recorded by Tracy Byrd in 2004  Johnnycash machine , a promotion used by Canada Trust for their ATMs in the 1980s and 1990s with the slogan `` Why walk the line ? ''  `` Johnny Cash '' , a song by Yelawolf

neg: The Gamble (book) The Gamble : General David Petraeus and the American Military Adventure in Iraq , 2006-2008 is a 2009 book by journalist Thomas E. Ricks about the Iraq War . It covers the 2006-2008 period where his last book Fiasco left off . A primary focus is the Iraq War troop surge of 2007 , along with the ascension to command of Gen. David Petraeus and the change in approach of Gen. Ray Odierno towards the use of counter-insurgency strategies . Ricks believes that the troop surge was successful in reducing violence in Iraq and `` reviv -LSB- ing -RSB- American prospects in the war , '' but that it was a failure based on its initial goal of bringing about a political reconciliation in Iraq .   Ricks states in the first chapter of the book ( page 8 ) :   In revisiting the U.S. approach to the Iraq war , Petraeus found tactical success -- that is , improved security -- but not the clear political breakthrough that would have meant unambiguous strategic success . At the end of the surge , the fundamental political problems facing Iraq were the same ones as when it began . At the end of 2008 , two years into the revamped war , there was no prospect of the fighting ending anytime soon . But it was almost certain that whenever it did end , it would n't be with the victory that the Bush administration continued to describe , of an Iraq that was both a stable democracy and an ally of the United States . Nor was that really the goal anymore , though no one had said so publicly . Under Petraeus , the American goal of transforming Iraq had quietly been scaled down . But even his less ambitious target of sustainable security would remain elusive , with no certainty of reaching it anytime soon .   Ricks also predicted that the US will have combat troops in Iraq until at least 2015 , . The last combat troops left with the war 's end in December 2011 , only to return three years later during the American-led intervention in Iraq ( 2014 -- present ) .   Ricks appeared to promote the book on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart on 10 February , 2009 .

neg: Gambler (film) Gambler is a 1971 Bollywood thriller film directed by Amarjeet . The film stars Dev Anand and Shatrughan Sinha .

neg: Al Rogers Al Rogers ( born July 24 , 1926 ) is an American Country and Western singer .

neg: The Folk Singer `` The Folk Singer '' is a folk song , written by Charles E. Daniels and American musician Johnny Cash and first recorded by Cash in 1968 . It is also known as `` Folk Singer '' or , less often , `` The Singer '' .   Allegedly about American pop singer Tommy Roe , `` The Folk Singer '' was first recorded in 1968 and released as a b-side on a 45 RPM live reissue of Cash 's `` Folsom Prison Blues '' single in April 1968 . Later recorded by Burl Ives ( on the album , The Times They Are A-Changin ' ) the same year and Glen Campbell ( on the album , Try a Little Kindness ) in 1970 , the song reached a wider audience from these versions .

neg: Gene & Debbe Gene and Debbe were a pseudo-pop/country duo hailing from Nashville , Tennessee .   They had some brief successes on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart . Gene Thomas ( born Gene Thomasson on 28 December 1937 , Palestine , Texas , died 26 August 2012 in Fredericksburg , Texas ) and had some minor success in the early 1960s with the songs `` Sometime '' and `` Baby 's Gone '' . After the latter , he dabbled in writing music for a few years . His songs have been performed or covered by numerous other country singers including Waylon Jennings , Kenny Rogers and Everly Brothers as well as Tina Turner ! the . After a few years , Gene met with aspiring crooner , Debbe Neville , ( or Nevills as some sources say ) . In an Everly Brothers style of harmonizing , they launched a career at Acuff-Rose music , singing romantic country style pop melodies .   They were signed to a recording contract with the subsidiary of Hickory Records ( Sue Thompson , Don Gibson , The Newbeats etc. ) , TRX , where they recorded their two biggest hits , `` Go With Me '' and `` Playboy '' . The latter had an eventual combined sales figure of one million discs being awarded a gold record in June 1968 .  After hitting the charts with `` Playboy '' at No. 17 , they both faded into chart ( but not musical ) obscurity .   The couple produced one album Hear and Now ( catalogue number TRX LPS 1001 ) in 1968 , which is a rarity to find . It contains the single `` Playboy '' .   Gene Thomas died on August 26 , 2012 of lung cancer at the age of 74 .

neg: High roller A high roller , also referred to as a whale , is a gambler who wagers large amounts of money . High rollers often receive lavish `` comps '' from casinos to lure them onto the gambling floors , such as free private jet transfers , limousine use and use of the casinos ' best suites . Casinos may also extend credit to a player to continue betting , offer rebates on betting turnover or losses , and salaries of employees may also contain incentive arrangements to bring in high rollers .   The definition of a high roller varies . At Crown Casino in Australia , for example , it involves bringing between A$ 50,000 and $ 75,000 to the table . High roller players often have very high table limits allowing the high roller exclusive use . Casinos compete on bet limits . In Australia limits of A$ 300,000 are common , in Las Vegas they are between US$ 150,000 and $ 300,000 , and in Macau they are up to US$ 500,000 . Only casinos with `` substantial financial firepower '' can accommodate high-stakes gambling due to the `` volatility '' of results .   High rollers may also be subject to exceptions from various rules and regulations ; for example the high roller rooms at Crown Casino in Melbourne , Australia are the only licensed venue in the state not subject to a ban on smoking .   High rollers are said to provide only a small fraction of casino `` action . '' John Eidsmoe , in his book Legalized Gambling : America 's Bad Bet , claims that it is actually gamblers from the lower and lower-middle classes in the United States that provide much of the gambling money . `` The occasional wealthy ` high roller ' does indeed exist , but he is the exception , not the standard . The fact that more than 50 % of Nevada 's gambling income comes from slot machines as opposed to the card tables should be an indication high rollers are not the main source of revenue . ''   One example of a high roller is an Australian man who turned over more than A$ 1.5 billion in a 14-month period from 2005 , becoming `` one of Crown 's largest Australian players but not in the same league as -LSB- its -RSB- top international players '' . There have been many cases around the world where high rollers have committed fraud to provide funds for gambling beyond their means , after becoming seduced by the lifestyle . This was the case with famed gambler Terrance Watanabe who reputedly lost over $ 220M in Las Vegas over a 5-year period , and was ultimately sued by Caesars Entertainment for failing to pay up on markers he took out during the binge totaling $ 14.75 M.    While high rollers may not provide a significant portion of the revenues in the casino industry as a whole , they can have a major effect on the net income of casinos that cater to them . There are significant costs associated with attracting the highest stakes gamblers , so if a casino takes this chance and the patron wins , its expenses can be extraordinarily large . But if the casino 's investment pays off and the high roller loses , the casino 's gain can far exceed its expenses for the high roller 's visit .

neg: Coca-Cola Cowboy `` Coca-Cola Cowboy '' is a song written by Steve Dorff , Sandy Pinkard , Sam Atchley and Bud Dain , and recorded by American country music artist Mel Tillis . It was released in June 1979 as the first single from the album Mr. Entertainer . The song was featured in the film , Every Which Way But Loose , starring Clint Eastwood and the film Bandit Goes Country ( which also had Tillis in the film ) starring Brian Bloom . `` Coca-Cola Cowboy '' was Tillis ' fifth number one on the U.S. country singles chart , where it spent one week at the top and a total of eleven weeks on the chart .

neg: The Hustler (film) The Hustler is a 1961 American drama film directed by Robert Rossen from Walter Tevis 's 1959 novel of the same name , adapted for the screen by Rossen and Sidney Carroll . It tells the story of small-time pool hustler `` Fast Eddie '' Felson and his desire to break into the `` major league '' of professional hustling and high-stakes wagering by high-rollers that follows it . He throws his raw talent and ambition up against the best player in the country ; seeking to best the legendary pool player `` Minnesota Fats . '' After initially losing to Fats and getting involved with unscrupulous manager Bert Gordon , Eddie returns to try again , but only after paying a terrible personal price .   The film was shot on location in New York City . It stars Paul Newman as `` Fast '' Eddie Felson , Jackie Gleason as Minnesota Fats , Piper Laurie as Sarah , and George C. Scott as Bert .   The Hustler was a major critical and popular success , gaining a reputation as a modern classic . Its exploration of winning , losing , and character garnered a number of major awards ; it is also credited with helping to spark a resurgence in the popularity of pool . Real-life pool player Rudolf Wanderone , known at the time as `` New York Fats '' and `` Chicago Fats '' , claimed to be the real life inspiration for Gleason 's character , Minnesota Fats , and adopted the name as his own .

neg: VH1 Storytellers: Johnny Cash & Willie Nelson VH1 Storytellers is the 83rd overall album and is a live album by Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson , released in 1998 ( see 1998 in music ) on American Recordings . The album was produced by Rick Rubin and was the third record released as part of Cash 's ten-year period of collaboration with Rubin . It is not , however , counted as part of the American Recordings series , which is reserved for Cash 's studio work with Rubin .   Cash and Nelson take turns on songs associated with each respective artist , usually with the other performing harmony or occasionally verses . The opening track is a duet with Cash and Nelson , and some tracks feature guitar solos by Nelson . Between tracks , Cash and Nelson joke with each other and discuss the songs and their origins .   This was the final album of new performances released by Cash prior to the onset of health problems that forced him to curtail live concerts also led to changes in the timbre of his voice that were noticeable from American III : Solitary Man ( his next album release of new recordings issued in 2000 ) onwards . It was also Cash 's final purpose-recorded live album to be released during his lifetime , though an archival recording , Johnny Cash at Madison Square Garden , recorded in 1969 , would be issued a year before his death .

neg: Duets (Kenny Rogers album) Duets was a special 1984 album released by Liberty Records from Kenny Rogers . It was issued after Rogers left the label and signed to RCA Records .

neg: Greatest Hits, Vol. 3 (Johnny Cash album) Greatest Hits , Vol . 3 is a greatest hits compilation by country singer Johnny Cash , released on Columbia Records in 1978 ( see 1978 in music ) . It is the third and last part of the Johnny Cash Greatest Hits compilation series ; the previous parts , Greatest Hits , Vol . 1 and Greatest Hits , Vol . 2 , had been released in 1967 and 1971 , respectively .   The release is notable in that it contains two songs - `` It 's All Over '' and `` Old Time Feeling , '' - which had n't appeared on any Johnny Cash album before .   `` It 's All Over '' was first released as a single in September 1976 , peaking at # 41 Country ( a.k.a. C&W ) . This song was previously demoed at House of Cash in Hendersonville on July 11 , 1973 , appearing 33 years later on Cash 's Personal File double cd . The 1973 demo of `` It 's All Over '' is the only available ( cd/mp3 ) version of this rare song as of June 2010 . This was until the Readers Digest boxset The Great Seventies Recordings was released featuring this version of `` It 's All Over ''   `` Old Time Feeling '' was then rush-released as Cash 's next single in October 1976 , reaching the Top 30 at # 26 C&W .   `` I Wish I Was Crazy Again '' , featuring Waylon Jennings , had only recently been featured on the album I Would Like to See You Again in April 1978 . It was first released as the b-side of the popular # 2 C&W hit `` There Ai n't No Good Chain Gang '' ( also with Jennings and also from the aforementioned album ) . By November 1979 , popular demand caused `` I Wish I Was Crazy Again '' to be issued as an A-side , almost making the Top 20 at # 22 C&W .   The album itself reached No. 49 , despite the fact that a third of its contents had only just been featured a few months earlier on the album I Would Like to See You Again and two other tracks from the less-than-a-year-old The Rambler .

neg: So Doggone Lonesome `` So Doggone Lonesome '' is a song written by country singer Johnny Cash . He and his band ( The Tennessee Two ) recorded the song in a studio session at Sun Records studios at 706 Union Avenue in Memphis , Tennessee ; the session took place on July 30 , 1955 , when the trio also recorded `` Luther Played The Boogie '' ( a homage to the group 's lead guitarist , Luther Perkins ) and `` Mean Eyed Cat '' , the latter of which Cash reprised on his Unchained album for Rick Rubin 's American Recordings .   Cash was a great admirer of Ernest Tubb , and wrote `` So Doggone Lonesome '' with him in mind . Many of Cash 's self-penned recordings were written with a certain artist in mind , including `` Get Rhythm '' , originally written for Elvis Presley .   Legend has it that Tubb heard `` So Doggone Lonesome '' on the radio , which inspired him to record his own version of the song . It is certainly a fact that Tubb did record `` So Doggone Lonesome '' and performed it on the Grand Ole Opry , but the real inspiration for his decision to do so is unclear . Additionally , Cash is reported to have said he only believed he had truly `` made it '' as an artist when he heard Tubb singing one of his songs .

neg: Buck Griffin Albert C. `` Buck '' Griffin ( February 23 , 1923 -- February 14 , 2009 ) was an American country musician and songwriter . He was a popular performer live and on radio , though he never scored a hit on record , and was compared to Hank Williams and Conway Twitty .   Griffin was born in Corsicana , Texas and was raised in Oklahoma and Missouri . He began playing guitar at age 12 and sang lead in a high school dance band . After school Griffin took jobs as a ditch digger and oil driller in Kansas , where he played in local clubs . In the late 1940s he was offered a slot on Oklahoma City radio station WKY under the name Chuck Wyman .   Joe Leonard , owner of a Gainesville , Texas radio station , offered Griffin a contract on Lin Records in 1954 , and had him record his first single at the studios of Dallas 's WFAA . `` It Do n't Make No Nevermind '' b/w `` Meadowlark Boogie '' was his first release , but it went nowhere , and several more releases later in 1954 ( some of which featured members of Bob Wills 's band ) also failed to attract attention . Despite this , Griffin was a popular live performer , performing with Red Foley and Marty Robbins among others . Additionally , he did well as a songwriter ; his `` Goin ' Home All Alone '' was recorded by Wade Ray , and Janis Martin did a version of his failed single `` Let 's Elope , Baby '' . He appeared on ABC-TV 's Talent Varieties on August 2 , 1955 , singing `` Next to Mine '' .   In 1956 , Griffin contracted with the Dallas radio show Big D Jamboree , and MGM Records picked up his previous Lin Records releases for national distribution . Though MGM released 45s from Griffin into the early 1960s , he never scored a hit ; later releases on Holiday Inn Records fared no better .   In 1963 Griffin started Rotary Records and recorded several singles on that label as well as having a local television show on KCKT in Hoisington , Kansas .  From 1965 Griffin sold Bibles and worked as a Driller in the Kansas and Oklahoma oilfields as well as becoming a licensed pilot , owning several airplanes . He was a major force behind the building of an airstrip south of Hoisington , Kansas .  He still wrote and published songs and occasionally recorded . In the 1970s his chronic asthma became a barrier to performing . He died of complications to emphysema on February 14 , 2009 in Sayre , Oklahoma .

neg: The Very Best of the O'Jays The Very Best of the O'Jays is a compilation album featuring all their greatest hits . It is part of Sony 's Playlist album series , which covers 1972 through to 1978 , when the O'Jays ( and Gamble & Huff ) were at the peak of the Charts . Every song on the album has placed somewhere within the Top 20 of the R&B chart , and many of them went to the top of the chart including `` Back Stabbers , '' `` Love Train , '' `` For the Love of Money , '' and `` Use ta Be My Girl , ''

neg: The Gambler (EP) The Gambler is an EP by the rock artist Mike Doughty . It was released in 2005 on ATO Records , exclusively through the iTunes Music Store . The album contains mostly live performances . Several of the tracks are cover songs ( `` The Gambler '' - Kenny Rogers , `` Strange Powers '' - The Magnetic Fields , and `` The King of Carrot Flowers '' - Neutral Milk Hotel ) , and two of the compositions were originally performed with Doughty 's previous band Soul Coughing . ( `` St. Louise Is Listening '' and `` Janine '' can be found on the Soul Coughing albums El Oso and Ruby Vroom , respectively . ) The EP also includes a video for the song `` Looking at the World from the Bottom of a Well , '' a track found on Doughty 's previously released album Haughty Melodic .

neg: Gideon (album) Gideon is the ninth studio album by Kenny Rogers . Issued by United Artists Records in 1980 , it reached # 1 on the country charts and the top 20 of the pop charts . It includes the worldwide hit `` Do n't Fall in Love with a Dreamer '' ( a duet with Kim Carnes , who also wrote and produced the album for Rogers ) .   Gideon is a concept album about a Texas cowboy , and all the songs stick to this theme . The album is a look back at his life in retrospect . In the first song `` Gideon Tanner '' , it is known that Gideon is dead . This and most of the other songs are sung from the point of view of Gideon .   Although the album 's only single release was `` Do n't Fall in Love with a Dreamer '' , the song `` Saying Goodbye '' was issued on the B-side to Rogers ' top five hit single `` Love the World Away '' .   Gideon reached # 1 on the Billboard Country charts in 1980 .

neg: Tribute (Roy Rogers album) Tribute is the fourth studio album by American country music artist Roy Rogers . It was released in 1991 via RCA Records . The album peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart .

neg: Frontier gambler The Frontier Gambler is one of the most recognizable stock characters of the American West , usually portrayed as a gentlemanly southerner living outside of the law . Historically , gamblers were of both sexes , came from a variety of professions and class backgrounds , were of many different nationalities , and were part of a well-respected profession . As the west became increasingly populated and domesticated , the public perception of gambling changed to a negative one and led nearly all of the state and territorial legislatures to pass anti-gambling laws in and effort to `` clean up '' their towns . The gambler continues to be a captivating figure in the imagery of the west , representing the openness of its society and invoking its association with risk-taking .


query: Hilda Ellis Davidson wrote about Germanic paganism in France.

pos: Hilda Ellis Davidson Hilda Roderick Ellis Davidson ( born Hilda Roderick Ellis , 1 October 1914 -- January 2006 ) was an English antiquarian and academic , writing in particular on Germanic paganism and Celtic paganism . Davidson used literary , historical and archaeological evidence to discuss the stories and customs of Northern Europe . Gods and Myths of Northern Europe ( Penguin Books , 1964 ) is considered one of the most thorough and reputable sources on Germanic mythology . Like many of her publications , it was credited under the name H. R. Ellis Davidson . Davidson was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries , and was president of the Council of the Folklore Society from 1974 to 1976 , and served on the council from 1956 to 1986 . Davidson has been cited as having `` contributed greatly '' to the study of Norse mythology .

neg: Breton dance Breton Dance is a group of traditional dance forms originating in Brittany , the Celtic region of France .  The dance has experienced a reappropriation in the late 1950s , with the development of the Celtic Circles ( cultural groups ) and Fest Noz ( night festival ) .

neg: Matres and Matronae The Matres ( Latin `` mothers '' ) and Matronae ( Latin `` matrons '' ) were female deities venerated in Northwestern Europe from the first to the fifth century . They are depicted on votive offerings and altars that bear images of goddesses , depicted almost entirely in groups of three , that feature inscriptions ( about half of which feature Continental Celtic names and half of which feature Germanic names ) that were venerated in regions of Germania , Eastern Gaul , and Northern Italy ( with a small distribution elsewhere ) that were occupied by the Roman army from the first to the fifth century .   Information about the religious practices surrounding the Matres is limited to the stones on which their depictions and inscriptions are found , of which over 1,100 exist . The Germanic Matres have been connected with the later Germanic dísir , valkyries , and norns attested largely in 13th century sources .   Matres also appear on votive reliefs and inscriptions in other areas occupied by the Roman army , including southeast Gaul , as at Vertillum ; in Spain and Portugal , where some twenty inscriptions are known , among them several ones which include local epithets like a dedication to the Matribus Gallaicis `` to the Galician Mothers '' ; and also in the Romano-Celtic culture of Pannonia in the form of similar reliefs and inscriptions to the Nutrices Augustae , `` the august Nurses '' found in Roman sites of Ptuj , Lower Styria .

neg: Cuthbert Cuthbert ( c. 634 -- 20 March 687 ) is a saint of the early Northumbrian church in the Celtic tradition . He was a monk , bishop and hermit , associated with the monasteries of Melrose and Lindisfarne in what might loosely be termed the Kingdom of Northumbria in the North East of England and the South East of Scotland . After his death he became one of the most important medieval saints of Northern England , with a cult centred on his tomb at Durham Cathedral . Cuthbert is regarded as the patron saint of Northern England . His feast days are 20 March and 4 September ( translation ) .   Cuthbert grew up near Melrose Abbey , a daughter-house of Lindisfarne , today in Scotland . He had decided to become a monk after seeing a vision on the night in 651 that St. Aidan , the founder of Lindisfarne , died , but seems to have seen some military service first . He was quickly made guest-master at the new monastery at Ripon , soon after 655 , but had to return with Eata to Melrose when Wilfrid was given the monastery instead . About 662 he was made prior at Melrose , and around 665 went as prior to Lindisfarne . In 684 he was made bishop of Lindisfarne but by late 686 resigned and returned to his hermitage as he felt he was about to die , although he was probably only in his early 50s .

neg: Rites of the Gods Rites of the Gods is an archaeological study of religious belief and ritual practices across prehistoric Britain from the Old Stone Age through to the Iron Age . Written by the prominent English archaeologist and megalithic specialist Aubrey Burl , it was first published in 1981 by J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd. .   Each chapter explores a different stage in British prehistory , beginning with the Old Stone Age , when the island was inhabited by hunter-gatherers who likely undertook rituals for use in `` hunting magic '' .

neg: Vitré, Ille-et-Vilaine Vitré is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Brittany in northwestern France .   Vitré , a sub-prefecture until 1926 , is the seat of a canton of around 16,834 inhabitants ( 2010 ) . It lies on the edge of Brittany , near Normandy , Maine , and Anjou . The town has been designated a ville d'art et d'histoire , a town of artistic and historic significance , by the Ministry of Culture in recognition of its rich cultural inheritance . Vitré is the 37th French city with the most historic buildings and has 14 % of the historical monuments of the department .   `` If I was not King of France , I want to be bourgeois from Vitré ! '' Henry IV , King of France , surprised by the richness of the city in 1598 .   `` The good fortune to see a Gothic city entire , complete , homogeneous , a few of which still remain , Nuremberg in Bavaria and Vittoria in Spain , can readily form an idea ; or even smaller specimens , provided that they are well preserved , Vitré in Brittany , Nordhausen in Prussia . '' Victor Hugo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame , Book third , Chapter 2 , A bird 's eye view of Paris , 1831

neg: Breton National Party The Breton National Party ( French Parti National Breton , or PNB ) was a nationalist party in Brittany that existed from 1931 to 1944 . The party was disbanded after the liberation of France in World War II , because of ties to the Third Reich .   The PNB was formed in the aftermath of split between federalists and nationalists within the Breton Autonomist Party ( PAB ) , following the Congress of Guingamp in August 1931 . Following the collapse of the PAB , the federalists led by Morvan Marchal formed the Breton Federalist League ; the nationalist faction , led by Olier Mordrel , decided to found a new party with a clearly nationalist agenda , namely seeking Breton independence from France .   This revived the programme of the previous Breton Nationalist Party , which had existed from 1911-1914 . A congress was held in Landerneau on December 27 , 1931 . The following year , activists led by Célestin Lainé bombed a sculpture in Rennes representing Breton unity with France . The creation of this sculpture had spurred the foundation of the earlier party in 1911 .   The party was influenced by international Celticist ideas , and modelled its aspirations on Irish independence movements . It was also closely associated with fascist ideology . Because of its connections with Nazi Germany the party was banned in France on the outbreak of World War II in 1939 , but after the defeat of France it was revived , becoming closely associated with Breton collaborationism . An explicitly Nazi faction broke away in 1941 under the name Breton Social-National Workers ' Movement .   During its existence , the PNB published a newspaper , L'Heure Bretonne .

neg: Dianic Wicca Dianic Wicca , also known as Dianic Witchcraft is a neopagan religion of female-centered goddess worship and religious witchcraft . While some adherents identify as Wiccan , it differs from most traditions of Wicca in that only goddesses are worshiped ( whereas most Wiccan traditions honor both female and male deities ) .   While there is more than one tradition that calls itself Dianic , the best known is the female-only variety , founded by Zsuzsanna Budapest in the United States in the 1970s . It is notable for its worship of a single Goddess and focus on egalitarian , matriarchal feminism . It is named after the Roman goddess Diana , but Dianics worship goddesses from many cultures , seeing them as `` aspects '' of a monotheistic goddess . Dianic Wicca is an eclectic combination of elements from British Traditional Wicca , Italian folk-magic as recorded by Charles Leland in Aradia , feminist values , folk magic and healing practices from a variety of different cultures .

neg: Brittia Brittia according to Procopius was an island he considered to be known to the inhabitants of the Low Countries under Frankish rule ( viz . the North Sea coast of Austrasia ) , corresponding both to a real island used for burial and a mythological Isle of the Blessed , to which the souls of the dead are transported .   Procopius 's Brittia lies no farther than 200 stadia ( 25 miles ) from the mainland , opposite the mouth of the Rhine but between the islands of Brettania and legendary Thule , and three nations live in it , Angiloi , Phrissones and Brittones , that is , Angles , Frisians and Britons . Procopius mentions a wall in Brittia , which he distinguishes from Bretannia , however , and fertile lands . `` It is perhaps only the apparently authentic combinations of names , Angles , Frisians and Britons , which demands hard attention to this interlude in serious Byzantine discussions of the Gothic wars , '' H. R. Loyn warns .   Procopius relates that  `` They imagine that the souls of the dead are transported to that island . On the coast of the continent there dwell under Frankish sovereignty , but hitherto exempt from all taxation , fishers and farmers , whose duty it is to ferry the souls over . This duty they take in turn . Those to whom it falls on any night , go to bed at dusk ; at midnight they hear a knocking at their door , and muffled voices calling . Immediately they rise , go to the shore , and there see empty boats , not their own but strange ones , they go on board and seize the oars . When the boat is under way , they perceive that she is laden choke-full , with her gunwales hardly a finger 's breadth above water . Yet they see no one , and in an hour 's time they touch land , which one of their own craft would take a day and a night to do . Arrived at Brittia , the boat speedily unloads , and becomes so light that she only dips her keel in the wave . Neither on the voyage nor at landing do they see any one , but they hear a voice loudly asking each one his name and country . Women that have crossed give their husbands ' names . ''   `` A garbled account '' , observed Loyn `` possibly an echo of a report by a Frankish ambassador or an Angle in the ambassador 's entourage '' .   Pursuing geographical accuracy beyond the capacity of Procopius himself , there have been suggestions as to at which point exactly these boats left the Gallic coast , Villemarqué placing it near Raz , Armorica , where there is a toponym baie des âmes / boé an anaon `` bay of souls '' .   Jacob Grimm reports that on the river Tréguier in Brittany , in the commune Plouguel , it is `` said to be the custom to this day , to convey the dead to the churchyard in a boat , over a small arm of the sea called passage de l'enfer , instead of taking the shorter way by land '' .   Procopius 's account is repeated by John Tzetzes in the 12th century ; but long before that , Claudian at the beginning of the 5th had heard of those Gallic shores as a trysting place of flitting ghosts .   and not far from that region are Britain , the land of the Senones , and the Rhine . Grimm compares this account to the airy wagon of the Bretons , and to bardic traditions which make out that souls , to reach the underworld , must sail over the pool of dread and of dead bones , across the vale of death , into the sea on whose shore stands open the mouth of hell 's abyss .   The name may arise from the Breton name of Brittany , Breizh .

neg: Etichonids The Etichonids were an important noble family , probably of Frankish , Burgundian or Visigothic origin , who rose to dominate the region of Alsace in the Early Middle Ages from the 7th to the 10th centuries .   The earliest accounts record the family 's beginnings in the pagus Attoariensis around Dijon in northern Burgundy . In the mid-7th century a duke of the region named Amalgar and his wife Aquilina are noticed as major founders and patrons of monasteries . King Dagobert I and his father made donations to them to recover their loyalty and compensate them for the losses that they had sustained as supporters of Queen Brunhild and her grandson , Sigebert II . Amalgar and his wife founded a convent at Brégille and an abbey at Bèze , installing a son and daughter in the abbacies . They were succeeded by their third child , Adalrich , who was the father of Adalrich , Duke of Alsace . This second Adalrich was the true founder of the family 's greatness in Alsace , where he secured the ducal title . His name , Eticho , a variation of Adalrich , is used by modern scholars as the name of the family .   Under the Etichonids , Alsace was generally divided into a Nordgau and a Sundgau . These counties , as well as the monasteries of the duchy , were brought under tighter control of the dukes with the rise of the Etichonids . There exists scholarly debate concerning whether or not the Etichonids were in conflict or alliance with the Carolingians , but it is possible that they were both : opponents of the extension of Charles Martel 's authority in the 720s when he first made war on Alemannia , but allies when the Alemanni , under Duke Theudebald invaded Alsace ( which had a large Alemannic element in its population ) in the early 740s . The last Etichonid duke , Liutfrid , may have died fighting Theudebald on behalf of Pepin the Short .   Among the descendants of the Etichonids , in the female line were Hugh of Tours and his family , including his daughter Ermengard , who was wife to Lothair I and thus mother to three Carolingian kings . In the 10th century the Etichonids remained powerful in Alsace as counts , but their power was circumscribed significantly by the Ottonians and by the 11th century , Pope Leo IX seems unaware that his ancestors , the lords ( or counts ) of Dabo and Eguisheim for the previous half century were in fact the direct descendants of the last Etichonids . Many notable European families trace their lineage to the Etichonids , including the Habsburgs .

neg: Malwida von Meysenbug Malwida von Meysenbug ( 28 October 1816 -- 23 April 1903 ) was a German writer , her work including Memories of an Idealist , the first volume of which she published anonymously in 1869 . As well , she was a friend of Friedrich Nietzsche and Richard Wagner , and met the French writer Romain Rolland in Rome in 1890 .   Von Meysenbug was born at Kassel , Hesse . Her father Carl Rivalier descended from a family of French Huguenots , and received the title of Baron of Meysenbug from William I of Hesse-Kassel . The ninth of ten children , she broke with her family because of her political convictions . Two of her brothers made brilliant careers , one as a minister of state in Austria , and the other as Minister of the Karlsruhe . Von Meysenbug , however , refused to appeal to her family and lived first by joining a free community in Hamburg , and then by immigrating in 1852 to England where she lived by teaching and translating works . There , she met the republicans Ledru-Rollin , Louis Blanc , and Gottfried Kinkel , all political refugees ; the young Carl Schurz also became acquainted with her there .   In 1862 von Meysenbug went to Italy with Olga Herzen , the daughter of Alexander Herzen , known as the `` father of Russian socialism '' ( and whose daughters she taught ) and resided there . Olga Herzen married Gabriel Monod in 1873 and established herself in France , but Malwida 's poor health obstructed her from joining her .   Von Meysenbug introduced Nietzsche to several of his friends , including Helene von Druskowitz . She invited Paul Rée and Nietzsche to Sorrento , a town which overlooks the bay of Naples , in the autumn of 1876 . There , Rée wrote The Origins of Moral Sensations , and Nietzsche began Human , All Too Human .   In 1901 von Meysenbug was the first woman ever to be nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature after having been nominated by the French historian Gabriel Monod .   Malwida von Meysenbug died in Rome in 1903 and is buried in the Protestant Cemetery in the city .

neg: Gallo-Roman culture This article covers the culture of Romanized areas of Gaul . For the political history of the brief `` Gallic Empire '' of the third century , see Gallic Empire .   The term Gallo-Roman describes the Romanized culture of Gaul under the rule of the Roman Empire . This was characterized by the Gaulish adoption or adaptation of Roman morals and way of life in a uniquely Gaulish context . The well-studied meld of cultures in Gaul gives historians a model against which to compare and contrast parallel developments of Romanization in other , less-studied Roman provinces .   Interpretatio romana offered Roman names for Gaulish deities such as the smith-god Gobannus , but of Celtic deities only the horse-patroness Epona penetrated Romanized cultures beyond the confines of Gaul .   The barbarian invasions beginning in the early fifth century forced upon Gallo-Roman culture fundamental changes in politics , in the economic underpinning , in military organization . The Gothic settlement of 418 offered a double loyalty , as Western Roman authority disintegrated at Rome . The plight of the highly Romanized governing class is examined by R.W. Mathisen , the struggles of bishop Hilary of Arles by M. Heinzelmann .   Into the seventh century , Gallo-Roman culture would persist particularly in the areas of Gallia Narbonensis that developed into Occitania , Cisalpine Gaul and to a lesser degree , Gallia Aquitania . The formerly Romanized north of Gaul , once it had been occupied by the Franks , would develop into Merovingian culture instead . Roman life , centered on the public events and cultural responsibilities of urban life in the res publica and the sometimes luxurious life of the self-sufficient rural villa system , took longer to collapse in the Gallo-Roman regions , where the Visigoths largely inherited the status quo in 418 . Gallo-Roman language persisted in the northeast into the Silva Carbonaria that formed an effective cultural barrier with the Franks to the north and east , and in the northwest to the lower valley of the Loire , where Gallo-Roman culture interfaced with Frankish culture in a city like Tours and in the person of that Gallo-Roman bishop confronted with Merovingian royals , Gregory of Tours . Based on mutual intelligibility , David Dalby counts seven languages descended from Gallo-Romance : Gallo-Wallon , French , Franco-Provençal ( Arpitan ) , Romansh , Ladin , Friulian , and Lombard . However , other definitions are far broader , variously encompassing the Rhaeto-Romance languages , Occitano-Romance languages , and Gallo-Italic languages .

neg: Germanic Basin The Germanic Basin ( Germanisches Becken ) is a large region of sedimentation in Western and Central Europe that , during the Permian and Triassic periods , extended from England in the west to the eastern border of Poland in the east .   To the south it is bounded by the Vindelician Ridge ( Vindelizische Schwelle ) and , to the west and northwest , by the Armorican and London-Brabant Massifs . To the north the basin is bordered by the highlands of Ireland and Scotland , which were then still connected to the North American continent . To the east the basin was defined by the East European Platform , to the northeast by the Fennoscandinavian Shield ( Scandinavia and Finland ) . The sedimentation began in the Rotliegendes with continental depositions . Later , during the Zechstein and Muschelkalk the region was largely flooded by the sea . Bunter sandstone and Keuper are again largely of continental origin . But even in these rocks the perimeter regions have marine influences , short incursions of the sea also reached the centre of the basin in northern Germany .   During the Zechstein the sea ingressed from the Arctic Ocean to the north into the basin . This gateway closed during the Uppermost Permian . In the Triassic these marine incursions came through several `` portals '' in the south of the basin e.g. the East Carpathian Gate ( East Poland ) , the Silesian Gate ( West Poland ) and the Burgundian Gate ( France ) . In the Rhaetian new inlets formed in the northwest of the basin through the former highlands in Ireland and Scotland , which came from the Atlantic Ocean which was now opening up .

neg: Fergus I (mythological king) King Fergus I ( said to have flourished c. 330 B.C. ) , is generally identified as the son of Ferchard , Prince of Scots in Ireland .   The `` first king of Scotland '' , according to the fictitious chronologies of Boece and Buchanan , is said to have come to Scotland from Ireland about 330 B.C. to assist the Scots already settled in Scotland against the joint attack of the Picts and Britons . After succeeding in this he is further said to have gone back to Ireland to quell disturbances which had arisen in his absence , and to have been drowned in the passage off the port which got the name of Carrickfergus from him . According to Fordoun , Wyntoun , and most of the earlier genealogical lists of Scottish kings , the same account is given of the settlement of the Scots from Ireland by a King Fergus , son of Ferchard . According to others of the lists , Ferchard or Feardach , the father of Fergus , was the first and Fergus the second king . There follows a series of thirty-nine or forty-five kings between Fergus I and Fergus II , son of Earc . The critical insight of Father Innes demolished these fabulous lists of kings , and put the chronology of Scottish history on a sound foundation , by his proof that Fergus II , son of Earc , who came to Scotland about the end of the fifth century A.D. , was in reality the first Dál Riata king in Scotland . Innes 's results have been adopted by subsequent historians .   The invention and persistent acceptance during so many centuries , from the twelfth to the eighteenth , of a fabulous series of kings is , though not unparalleled , a singular specimen of the genealogical myth which flatters the vanity of nations as of families . It is supposed to have been due to the desire to establish a higher antiquity for the Scottish race , royal line , and church , than could be claimed for the Irish or English . It is of course not inconsistent with the rectified chronology of Innes that even prior to 503 A.D. there may have been Celts of the Scottish race settled in Scotland . Scots had aided the Picts in opposing the Romans in the fourth century , and Bede evidently inclines to an earlier date for the Scottish settlement . All that can be safely said is that there is no proof of any Dál Riata kingdom till the commencement of the sixth century , and that the account given by Boece and Buchanan of Fergus , the son of Ferchard , and his successors , is as devoid of historical foundation as the statement that `` his coming into Albion was at the time when Alexander the Great took Babylon , about 330 years before the birth of Christ '' .   Buchanan , from whom this sentence is quoted , attempts to save his own credit by prefixing the words `` historians say that '' , but by adopting it he became himself one of these historians , and gave the fabulous narrative a prolonged existence . Father Innes presses somewhat hardly on Boece , for the origin of this narrative dates back at least as early as the twelfth century , but the special blame undoubtedly attaches to Boece and still more to Buchanan that they clothed the dry list of names with characters , and invented events or incidents which gave the narrative more of the semblance of history .

neg: Hild Hild or Hildr may refer to :   Hildr , a common noun meaning `` battle '' in the Old Norse language .  Hildr or Hild is one of the Valkyries in Norse mythology , a personification of battle  Hild or Hilda of Whitby is a Christian saint who was a British abbess and nun in the Middle Ages  Hild ( Oh My Goddess ! ) , the ultimate Demon in Hell known as the Daimakaichō in the Oh My Goddess ! series  Hild ( novel ) , a 2013 novel about Hilda of Whitby by Nicola Griffith

neg: Gerald Gardner (Wiccan) Gerald Brosseau Gardner ( 1884 -- 1964 ) , also known by the craft name Scire , was an English Wiccan , as well as an author and an amateur anthropologist and archaeologist . He was instrumental in bringing the Contemporary Pagan religion of Wicca to public attention , writing some of its definitive religious texts and founding the tradition of Gardnerian Wicca .   Born into an upper-middle-class family in Blundellsands , Lancashire , Gardner spent much of his childhood abroad in Madeira . In 1900 , he moved to colonial Ceylon , and then in 1911 to Malaya , where he worked as a civil servant , independently developing an interest in the native peoples and writing papers and a book about their magical practices . After his retirement in 1936 , he travelled to Cyprus , penning the novel A Goddess Arrives before returning to England . Settling down near the New Forest , he joined an occult group , the Rosicrucian Order Crotona Fellowship , through which he claimed to have encountered the New Forest coven into which he was initiated in 1939 . Believing the coven to be a survival of the pre-Christian Witch-Cult discussed in the works of Margaret Murray , he decided to revive the faith , supplementing the coven 's rituals with ideas borrowed from Freemasonry , ceremonial magic and the writings of Aleister Crowley to form the Gardnerian tradition of Wicca .   Moving to London in 1945 , following the repeal of the Witchcraft Act of 1736 he became intent on propagating this religion , attracting media attention and writing about it in High Magic 's Aid ( 1949 ) , Witchcraft Today ( 1954 ) and The Meaning of Witchcraft ( 1959 ) . Founding a Wiccan group known as the Bricket Wood coven , he introduced a string of High Priestesses into the religion , including Doreen Valiente , Lois Bourne , Patricia Crowther and Eleanor Bone , through which the Gardnerian community spread throughout Britain and subsequently into Australia and the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s . Involved for a time with Cecil Williamson , Gardner also became director of the Museum of Magic and Witchcraft on the Isle of Man , which he ran until his death .   Gardner is internationally recognised as the `` Father of Wicca '' among the Pagan and occult communities . His claims regarding the New Forest coven have been widely scrutinised , with Gardner being the subject of investigation for historians and biographers such as Aidan Kelly , Ronald Hutton and Philip Heselton .

neg: Wilhelm Schmidt (linguist) __ NOTOC __   Wilhelm Schmidt SVD ( February 16 , 1868 -- February 10 , 1954 ) was an Austrian linguist , anthropologist , and ethnologist .   Wilhelm Schmidt was born in Hörde , Germany in 1868 . He entered the Society of the Divine Word in 1890 and was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest in 1892 . He studied linguistics at the universities of Berlin and Vienna .   Schmidt 's main passion was linguistics . He spent many years in study of languages around the world . His early work was on the Mon -- Khmer languages of Southeast Asia , and languages of Oceania and Australia . The conclusions from this study led him to hypothesize the existence of a broader Austric group of languages , which included the Austronesian language group . Schmidt managed to prove that Mon -- Khmer language has inner connections with other languages of the South Seas , one of the most significant findings in the field of linguistics .   From 1912 to his death in 1954 , Schmidt published his 12-volume Der Ursprung der Gottesidee ( The Origin of the Idea of God ) . There he explained his theory of primitive monotheism , the belief that primitive religion among almost all tribal peoples began with an essentially monotheistic concept of a high god -- usually a sky god -- who was a benevolent creator . Schmidt theorized that human beings believed in a God who was the First Cause of all things and Ruler of Heaven and Earth before men and women began to worship a number of gods :  `` Schmidt suggested that there had been a primitive monotheism before men and women had started to worship a number of gods . Originally they had acknowledge only one Supreme Deity , who had created the world and governed human affairs from afar . ''   In 1906 , Schmidt founded the journal Anthropos , and in 1931 , the Anthropos Institute , both of which still exist today . In 1938 , Schmidt and the Institute fled from Nazi-occupied Austria to Fribourg , Switzerland . He died there in 1954 .   His works available in English translation are : The Origin and Growth of Religion ( 1931 ) , High Gods in North America ( 1933 ) , The Culture Historical Method of Ethnology ( 1939 ) , and Primitive Revelation ( 1939 ) .

neg: European witchcraft Belief in and practice of witchcraft in Europe can be traced to classical antiquity and has continuous history during the Middle Ages , culminating in the Early Modern witch hunts and giving rise to the fairy tale and popular culture `` witch '' stock character of modern times , as well as to the concept of the `` modern witch '' in Wicca and related movements of contemporary witchcraft .   The topic is a complex amalgamation of the practices of folk healers , folk magic , ancient belief in sorcery in pagan Europe , Christian views on heresy , medieval and early modern practice of ceremonial magic and simple fiction in folklore and literature .

neg: Lapponia (book) Lapponia is a book written by Johannes Schefferus ( 1621 - 1679 ) covering a very comprehensive history of Northern Scandinavia topology , environment and Sami living condition , dwelling-places , clothing , gender roles , hunting , child raising , shamanism and pagan religion . It was published in late 1673 and closely followed by English , German , French and Dutch translations . Adapted and abridged version were also followed where only original chapters on shamanism and religion was preserved but the others replaced with tales on magic , sorcery , drums and heathenism .   The book uses `` Lap '' mainly to notice that Samis are still pagan and it is concluded that Lap is a word introduced by the Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus ( ca. 1150 - 1220 ) to distinguish Sami peoples living near the ocean ( coast-fenni ) and in the woodland ( lapp-fenni ) .   It was aimed to meet rumors , or as the council Magnus De La Gardie saw as degrading propaganda , from ( particular German ) pamphlets claiming the Swedes had used `` Sami magic '' on the European battlefields .   The book was not until 1956 ( after 300 years ) fully translated to Swedish ( as Lappland , Acta Lapponica 8 , Uppsala 1956 ) . Its references is , however , based on `` clergy correspondence '' letters , i.e. reports made by priests .   A smaller part of the geographical region described in the book is today named Lappland ( or Laponia . )

neg: Modern Paganism Modern Paganism , also known as Contemporary Paganism and Neopaganism , is a group of new religious movements influenced by or claiming to be derived from the various historical pagan beliefs of pre-modern Europe . Although they do share similarities , contemporary Pagan religious movements are diverse and no single set of beliefs , practices , or texts are shared by them all . Most academics studying the phenomenon have treated it as a movement of different religions , whereas a minority instead characterise it as a single religion into which different Pagan faiths fit as denominations . Not all members of faiths or beliefs regarded as Neopagan self-identify as `` Pagan '' .   Adherents rely on pre-Christian , folkloric and ethnographic sources to a variety of degrees ; many follow a spirituality which they accept as being entirely modern , while others attempt to reconstruct or revive indigenous , ethnic religions as found in historical and folkloric sources as accurately as possible . Academic research has placed the Pagan movement along a spectrum , with Eclecticism on one end and Polytheistic Reconstructionism on the other .  Polytheism , animism , and pantheism are common features in Pagan theology . Rituals take place in both public and in private domestic settings .   The Pagan relationship with Christianity is often strained . Contemporary Paganism has sometimes been associated with the New Age movement , with scholars highlighting both similarities and differences . From the 1990s onward , scholars studying the modern Pagan movement have established the academic field of Pagan studies .

neg: Elafius Elafius was recorded as a British figure of the fifth century AD .   He is the only named British figure ( apart from the martyr-saint Alban ) in the Vita Germani ( Life of Saint Germanus ) , written by Constantius of Lyon in the mid to late 5th century , which describes two visits to Britain by.bishop Germanus of Auxerre . According to Constantius during Germanus 's second visit to Britain ( perhaps in c. AD 446-7 ) he met Elafius and miraculously cured his crippled son . This act served to demonstrate to the Britons that Catholicism was the true faith rather than Pelagianism .   Elafius is mentioned as being regionis illius primus '' ' or ` leader of that region ' in chapters 26 and 27 of Constantius of Lyon 's hagiography of Germanus and also in Chapter XXI of Bede 's Ecclesiastical History of England . Both sources mention that provincia tota or ` the whole province ' followed him to witness the cure . This description can be taken to mean that Elafius was one of a number of local warlords rather than leader of all post-Roman Britain and might provide a small insight into the political situation in the area at the time . By means of comparison , a Briton Germanus is recorded as having met seventeen years earlier , in 429 , is described by Constantius as being of tribunician rank . This remnant Roman term and the Romanised society it represents may therefore have been abandoned by Elafius ' time as he is accorded no such title . On the other hand there may be little significance in the term if it is just being used as a general term for a civil official , while the fact that Elafius was a local leader need not necessarily imply he had the character of a ` warlord ' or that there was not someone who was regarded as the dominant leader of the entire ex-province at the time ( something , however , we can hardly know , one way or the other ) .   One might speculate that Elafius ' court , or place of residence , may have been at St Albans , the former Roman city of Verulamium , since that was very probably the cult centre for Saint Alban , visited by Germanus on his first visit to Britain - or alternatively some other ex-Roman city of Southern Britain . If Elafius was a leader he may have played a role in the subsequent exile of the Pelagian preachers although this banishment is described as being decided through common consent rather than a warlord 's orders or even a Roman legal process .   Elafius is a name of Greek origin ( elaphos '' = ` deer ' ) which in this period was best recorded from the South of Gaul