title: The Lemonheads

text: Now consisting of Dando, Dalton, and Ryan, the band officially renamed themselves from "Lemonheads" to "The Lemonheads" prior to the release of "Come on Feel the Lemonheads" in October 1993. Though no longer playing bass, Hatfield did appear as a backing singer on many of the tracks. The album also featured guest appearances by steel guitarist Sneaky Pete Kleinow and singers Belinda Carlisle and Rick James. This was a successful album with tracks such as "Big Gay Heart" and "It's About Time." The band enjoyed modest mainstream success, this time with the single "Into Your Arms" (their highest charting UK hit to date). Writer Robyn St. Clare made the first recording of this song in 1990 as part of Love Positions with Nic Dalton.


title: The Lemonheads

text: Dando befriended Oasis and appeared at the band's live shows. The cracks were beginning to show, and after one particularly disjointed interview with Dando almost unable to speak, having lost his voice after smoking crack cocaine, he admitted to having a drug problem. The band went on hiatus and Dando went into rehab.


title: The Lemonheads

text: In 1996, Dando re-formed The Lemonheads with a completely new lineup, including drummer Murph (formerly of Dinosaur Jr), bassist Bill Gibson (formerly of The Eastern Dark), and guitarist John Strohm (formerly of the Blake Babies; Strohm had also played drums with the Lemonheads during their early years). This band produced another Lemonheads album, "Car Button Cloth". While featuring jangly guitar songs such as "If I Could Talk I'd Tell You," this set also showed off the darker side of Dando's writing.


title: The Lemonheads

text: The band contributed to "Schoolhouse Rock! Rocks", a 1996 tribute album for "Schoolhouse Rock!" creator Thomas G. Yohe, which contained remakes of many popular "Schoolhouse Rock!" songs – The Lemonheads offered their take on "My Hero Zero." Previously, the band had contributed to a Kiss tribute album, recording Kiss' 1977 song "Plaster Caster" for "" (1994).


title: The Lemonheads

text: The band toured successfully in 1997 and played a final gig at the UK's Reading Festival. Following a cameo line in the BBC's all-star cover version of Lou Reed's "Perfect Day" (which reached number one in the UK Singles Chart), Dando continued to play live solo shows.


title: The Lemonheads

text: Atlantic released "The Best Of The Lemonheads" in August 1998. Through 1998 and 2004 Evan Dando undertook some solo tours performing the band's songs but an official reunion was never confirmed. During this time, Dando released a live album "Live at the Brattle Theatre" in 2001, and a solo album in 2003, titled "Baby I'm Bored". He also co-wrote the song "The Last High" with Courtney Taylor-Taylor of The Dandy Warhols for the album "Welcome to the Monkey House" by The Dandy Warhols.


title: The Lemonheads

text: After a nine-year hiatus, the band reformed in the summer of 2005 with a recording lineup bolstered by Bill Stevenson and Karl Alvarez, members of Descendents. The live lineup during this period fluctuated, with Stevenson and George Berz (Dinosaur Jr) both sitting in on drums during 2005, while Josh Lattanzi—chiefly known for his work with Ben Kweller—has frequently taken on bass duties for live shows.


title: The Lemonheads

text: On September 14 and 15, 2005, Dando, Stevenson and Lattanzi performed two shows at Shepherd's Bush Empire in London as part of the ATP Don't Look Back series, where they played "It's a Shame About Ray" in its entirety.


title: The Lemonheads

text: In April 2006, The Lemonheads were signed to Vagrant Records. The album, simply titled "The Lemonheads", was released on September 26, 2006 in the United States and one day earlier in the UK; the album featured special guests Garth Hudson and J Mascis on select tracks. To promote the album Dando toured the UK, Europe and US in late 2006 with a band consisting of Vess Ruhtenberg (bass) and Devon Ashley (drums) of The Pieces. In the US, they toured with Vietnam and Hymns (band) as support. The same line-up toured again in 2007 and 2008. The recording line-up of Dando, Alvarez and Stevenson played live for the first time together on a 20-date US tour in late 2007.


title: The Lemonheads

text: While The Lemonheads reformed, co-founder Deily received a degree from Harvard University. He currently works as an Associate Creative Director in the advertising industry. His power pop/punk band, Varsity Drag, completed a 25-city European tour during January and February 2007, performing their own material alongside several Deily compositions from the first four Lemonheads releases. Varsity Drag continues to perform periodically in the Boston Area.


title: The Lemonheads

text: A deluxe reissue of Lemonheads' 1992 album "It's a Shame About Ray" was released in March 2008 (US) and April 2008 (UK) on Rhino Records, which features demos, B-sides and a DVD issue of the previously VHS-only "Two Weeks In Australia", featuring footage from the band's Australian tour in the wake of their breakthrough album's release. To promote the reissue, the line-up of Dando, Ruhtenberg and Ashley performed the album in full at a number gigs between March and May 2008. Later in 2008 the band toured again in Europe with Vess Ruhtenberg and P. David Hazel (drums) of Beta Male.


title: The Lemonheads

text: On April 23, 2008, at the inaugural "NME" US Awards ceremony at the El Rey in Los Angeles, Dando received the classic album award for "It's A Shame About Ray", and also performed "My Drug Buddy" and the album's title track acoustically. According to reports, soon after receiving the award, Dando deposited it into a garbage can, telling a minder "I don't want this".


title: The Lemonheads

text: On June 23, 2009, The Lemonheads released "Varshons" – a collection of eleven covers, including tracks by Gram Parsons, Wire, GG Allin, and Christina Aguilera. The album also featured actress Liv Tyler performing a duet on Leonard Cohen's "Hey That's No Way To Say Goodbye". Despite several websites reporting a release date of September 13, 2008, the album was not released on this date. Later, in a blog post on the band's MySpace page, Dando hinted at a March 2009 release. On March 27, 2009, it was announced that Varshons would be released on June 23 on The End Records.


title: The Lemonheads

text: In an August 2007 interview, drummer Bill Stevenson stated that he was going to produce the Lemonhead's ninth album of original material. As of August 2010, however, announcements of a new album have not yet been released.


title: The Lemonheads

text: In September 2010 the Lemonheads announced an Australian tour playing all thirteen songs from the 1992 album "It's a Shame about Ray", plus a selection of songs from other albums.


title: The Lemonheads

text: On February 7, 2012, The Lemonheads will release Hotel Sessions on Hall of Records/Breath of Saltwater – an intimate recording documenting a Sunday night that Evan Dando spent recording new songs with just an acoustic guitar (and some revealing commentary) in a hotel room in Bondi Beach, Australia. The 14 songs include some that never made it to an official Lemonheads album, but Dando says, “the "Into Your Arms" I did here is better than the one on the album (I like it anyway).”


title: The Lemonheads

text: The Lemonheads completed a 9-week U.S. tour in spring of 2012 playing all thirteen songs from the 1992 album "It's a Shame about Ray", plus a selection of songs from other albums. Lead singer Evan Dando recruited drummer Chuck Treece and former Taking Back Sunday lead guitarist Fred Mascherino to play bass.


title: The Lemonheads

text: On September 17, 2012 Ryan Adams tweeted that he would be playing drums on a new 'punker sounding' Lemonheads album as well as producing it. He also announced that Evan Dando would be joined on the record by Juliana Hatfield and, for the first time since 1989's Lick, co-founder and original co-songwriter Ben Deily. Like the earlier Bill Stevenson produced sessions, however, no album was released.


title: The Lemonheads

text: On August 14, 2017, Atlantic Records divested the Lemonheads' back catalogue to Fire Records, which released several of the band's albums in the UK.


title: The Lemonheads

text: A second album of covers (the band's first album in a decade), titled "Varshons 2", was released in 2019.


title: The Lemonheads

text: Musically, the band has been classified as alternative rock, grunge, jangle pop, power pop, and pop-punk.


title: The Lemonheads

text: During the earliest years, the band consisted of Evan Dando, Ben Deily, and Jesse Peretz. Dando and Deily shared singing and songwriting duties; when recording or performing live each would sing and play guitar on their own compositions while the other would play drums. When the arrangement became unworkable, they hired additional drummers including Doug Trachten and John Strohm. On most of the first three albums (released by independent label TAANG!), songs from various recording sessions and live tracks are mixed, so instrumentation varies considerably from track-to-track depending on who was in the band when the tracks were recorded. CD versions of these albums were also released with bonus tracks from even later line-ups of the band.


title: The Lemonheads

text: When Deily quit the band in 1989, Dando replaced him with guitarist Corey Loog Brennan and drummer Mark Natola. Natola would be replaced by drummer David Ryan prior to the band's first major label album, "Lovey". Following the recording of "Lovey", founding bass player Jesse Peretz left the band to pursue a career in photography and filmmaking, and Brennan left to concentrate on his career as a college professor.


title: The Lemonheads

text: On their breakout album, "It's a Shame About Ray", Juliana Hatfield had joined on bass guitar and backing vocals. She would remain the backing vocalist for the follow-up album "Come on Feel the Lemonheads", but would be replaced on bass guitar by Nic Dalton. John Strohm, who had previously played drums with the band during their early years, toured with the band as a second guitarist in support of these albums.


title: The Lemonheads

text: Starting with 1996's "Car Button Cloth" and continuing through the present, the band membership has been fluid, with the name The Lemonheads generally being used by whomever Evan Dando had recruited to record and/or play with at the time. Their last official release was 2019's collection of cover songs "Varshons 2", which followed on from their prior release, 2009's "Varshons". Several announcements of albums of new material or tours involving any number of musicians have been announced over the years since then, most recently a 2012 project involving Ben Deily, Juliana Hatfield, and Ryan Adams, but as yet no major recordings or substantial tours have materialized.


title: The Lemonheads

text: Below is an approximate timeline of membership in The Lemonheads. Other than Evan Dando, the band has rarely had a stable line-up. The timeline below shows only members which were primary recording or touring members. It does not include guest musicians, or ephemeral line-ups which only appeared on stage under The Lemonheads moniker for one-off shows or brief appearances. Dates of membership are approximate based on known shows and recordings.


title: Jim Norton (comedian)

text: James Joseph Norton is an American comedian, radio personality, actor, author, and television and podcast host. Norton has been the co-host of the podcast "UFC Unfiltered" with Matt Serra and the morning radio show "Jim Norton & Sam Roberts" on SiriusXM Radio since 2016, and "The Chip Chipperson Podacast" since 2017.


title: Jim Norton (comedian)

text: He gained initial prominence as third mic on the radio show "Opie and Anthony", with Gregg "Opie" Hughes and Anthony Cumia, from 2001 to 2014.


title: Jim Norton (comedian)

text: After becoming a stand-up comedian in 1990, Norton spent his early years developing his act. His appearances on "The Louie Show" caught the attention of comedian Andrew Dice Clay in 1997, who chose Norton to open for him for his shows. In 2000, Norton made his debut on "Opie and Anthony" and joined the show as a third mic in 2001 which increased his national exposure. He went on to have a recurring role on the sitcom "Lucky Louie" and featured as a regular panellist on "Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn". Since he joined SiriusXM with "Opie and Anthony" in 2004, Norton hosted "Opie with Jim Norton" from 2014 to 2016, and "The Jim Norton Advice Show".


title: Jim Norton (comedian)

text: Since 2003, Norton has released four comedy albums and seven comedy specials, including three on Epix and one on Netflix. In 2014, Norton hosted "The Jim Norton Show", a talk show on Vice. He has written two books: "Happy Endings: The Tales of a Meaty-Breasted Zilch" and "I Hate Your Guts".


title: Jim Norton (comedian)

text: James Joseph Norton was born in Bayonne, New Jersey. His mother was a librarian and his father was a former US marine and army reservist who later worked as a driver for the US postal service. Norton grew up in North Brunswick, New Jersey with his sister Tracy.


title: Jim Norton (comedian)

text: Norton attended North Brunswick High School, from which he dropped out in his senior year. During this time, at age 13, Norton started to drink heavily, "mostly vodka and grain alcohol" because it got him drunk quicker. "That feeling of discomfort that was always there, wasn't there when I drank. It was just a way of feeling comfortable ... I was horribly insecure, horribly shy, always feeling ugly and weak". At 16, Norton started to cut himself with a razor blade in an attempt at "attention-seeking ... It was "notice me!" crap. I was 16, 17, and drunk. I never did that stuff sober". He then missed some schooling, including his graduation from high school, after his alarmed parents sent him to a rehab facility in Princeton, New Jersey for one month, where he continued to sneak in alcohol but changed his thinking and completed the course at 18. When he was away, his class had voted him as class clown. Norton had his last drink at New Year's Eve 1985 going into 1986, and has been alcohol and drug free since. Norton's addictive personality began to direct towards sex after he got sober.


title: Jim Norton (comedian)

text: After being sober for around three years, Norton obtained his GED and attended Middlesex County College with the aim of pursuing a Juris Doctor degree and becoming a lawyer, but quit after one month. He earned a B grade in English and failing grades in Problems and Statistics, Science, and Western Civilization. At 18, he took up work in a copper company, operating a forklift to unload boxed tubes of copper from trucks, which he remembered as being "awful". He was fired from the job at age 23. Norton collected unemployment benefits for several years, pretending to look for work while doing sets in local comedy venues, before he decided to pursue comedy full-time.


title: Jim Norton (comedian)

text: Norton wished to pursue a career as a stand-up comedian when he was 12. He took an interest to comedy after his mother brought home comedy albums from work, and names Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Woody Allen, and Robert Klein as his influences. Norton performed his first stand-up routine in April 1990 at an open mic night at Varsity, a pub in Sayreville, New Jersey, when he was 21. He later described his performance as "awful". Norton credited Pat Gaynor for putting him on stage that night, and Ward and John Magnuson of Rascals comedy club as being "instrumental" in his early development. Following his debut, Norton spent five years working on his stand-up traveling to New York, New Jersey, Boston, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Florida with comedians Jim Florentine and Bob Levy, who were coming up at the same time. Norton developed an act based on self-deprecating humor, which came naturally to him and gained encouragement when other comedians told him they enjoyed it. Around ten years into stand-up, Norton felt he had found his voice and felt comfortable enough on stage.


title: Jim Norton (comedian)

text: Norton had a breakthrough in 1997 after comedian Andrew Dice Clay noticed his appearance on "The Louie Show" and asked him to be his opening act on his tours when his original pick cancelled at the last minute. The two first met at the Comedy Store in Los Angeles where Norton was doing his first gig at the venue, and learned Clay wished to go on stage after him. Norton went on to open for Clay in the course of the following three years, playing large venues including Madison Square Garden in New York City in 2000.


title: Jim Norton (comedian)

text: The absence of "Opie and Anthony" from the airwaves between August 2002 and October 2004 encouraged Norton to write and develop his stand-up act. Soon after the show's cancellation, he underwent his Yellow Discipline Tour. In 2003, he had assembled a new 45-minute set and assembled his first comedy album, "Yellow Discipline", which was followed by "Trinkets I Own Made from Gorilla Hands", in April 2005. Soon after, Norton filmed his first half-hour HBO comedy special as part of the network's "One Night Stand" series, at NYU's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts after his manager informed him of the chance to perform a showcase in the New York City area. In 2004, Norton was voted best comedian and breakthrough performer of the year on Cringe Humor. Following his return to radio in 2004, Norton began a weekday routine of doing radio in the morning and performing short sets in a New York City comedy club, mostly the Comedy Cellar, in the evening to work on new material. From 2006 to 2008, Norton featured on every show of the annual Opie and Anthony's Traveling Virus Comedy Tour. In 2008, Norton hosted a four-part show on HBO titled "Down and Dirty with Jim Norton" that featured Lemmy as its musical director. He had Amy Schumer be his opening act in her early career.


title: Jim Norton (comedian)

text: Norton had a productive start in the 2010s, writing and releasing three, hour long specials in three and-a-half years. He released his first, "Please Be Offended" on the television channel Epix in June 2012, and features Ozzy Osbourne sitting on a toilet introducing Norton. He chose the network as they allowed him complete creative freedom and were willing to promote his product. Norton followed it with "American Degenerate", his second for Epix, which aired in August 2013 before it was released on Netflix that November. In April 2015, Norton released his fourth Epix special, "Contextually Inadequate". Within three months of its release, Norton was touring with a new hour of material. In the following year, Norton described his career as "stagnant... there's nothing happening".


title: Jim Norton (comedian)

text: In 2017, Norton's special "A Mouthful of Shame" debuted on Netflix. He promoted it with the 31-date Mouthful of Shame Tour, his first nationwide theatre tour as headliner, throughout 2016. The special includes an opening with Robert De Niro spanking Norton's bare bottom. Later in 2017, Norton embarked on his first stand-up tour of Europe. He signed with WME to pitch ideas for his own series on Netflix. He appeared in Season 2, Episode 1 of the Netflix standup comedy series "The Degenerates", released on 31 December 2019.


title: Jim Norton (comedian)

text: In early 2001, Norton was hired as the third mic on the "Opie and Anthony" radio show on WNEW in New York City, with hosts Gregg "Opie" Hughes and Anthony Cumia. He resisted calling himself a "host" of the show as he believes his strongest performances were when he was "an outsider looking in". He first appeared on the show in 2000 with Clay during his time opening for him on tour and became a regular guest and sat in on some shows. In November 2000, Norton was arrested with comedian Lewis Black and show producer Rick Del Gado during their live reports on board the Teen Voyeur Bus, a transparent bus of topless women driving around the city. It so happened that the bus' route was also the route that the president was taking that day, but the show was not informed of the news. Norton spent the night in jail. In August 2002, the show was cancelled following the controversial Sex for Sam 3 segment and remained off the air for two years. Norton returned to the radio with Hughes and Cumia on XM Satellite Radio, an uncensored satellite radio service, in October 2004. Cumia said Norton contributed a "dark and perverse" side to the show.


title: Jim Norton (comedian)

text: In October 2008, Norton was sued by New York City attorney Roy Den Hollander over his treatment during a phone interview on "Opie and Anthony". In August 2009, "The New York Post" reported that Hollander was willing to drop his suit if Norton would also drop his motion to have Hollander sanctioned for filing a baseless claim, as well as being forced to pay Norton's legal fees.


title: Jim Norton (comedian)

text: On December 2, 2009, Norton had an on-air argument with Jesse Ventura about the September 11 attacks and measures against illegal immigration. Ventura was arguing against what Norton claimed was the Border Patrol practice of stopping individuals and asking them to produce ID deep within US borders, claiming that such actions were unconstitutional. At some point, when Norton disagreed with him on this, Ventura suggested that Norton did not believe in the Constitution to which Norton strongly objected. Soon after, as the argument became more heated, Ventura walked off the air and the two exchanged explicit comments towards each other.


title: Jim Norton (comedian)

text: In May 2010, "The Jim Norton Show" premiered on the Raw Dog Comedy channel on SiriusXM. The show featured Norton as the host with other comedians plus clips of live stand-up.


title: Jim Norton (comedian)

text: After Cumia was fired from SiriusXM in July 2014, Hughes and Norton continued to broadcast and became the hosts of "Opie with Jim Norton", during which time the channel was renamed Opie Radio. Norton quickly missed working with Cumia, disliked the title of the re branded program, and felt he did not take over the vacant spot left by Cumia, but rather be a voice on the show hosted by Hughes. The show ended in September 2016. During this time, Norton also hosted a weekly advice show on SiriusXM named "The Jim Norton Advice Show".


title: Jim Norton (comedian)

text: In October 2016, Norton became the host of "Jim Norton & Sam Roberts" with former "Opie and Anthony" intern and producer Sam Roberts. Norton has a nightly one-hour playlist segment on Ozzy's Boneyard, a channel on SiriusXM, named Obsessed that airs his favourite tracks.


title: Jim Norton (comedian)

text: In mid-2016, Norton ended an online crowdfunding campaign via Indiegogo for the production of "The Chip Chipperson Show", an animated web series based on the same titled character that he does on the radio. He started the character as a way of hassling his girlfriend. He had received many requests to have the concept animated, and launched the project to have five full episodes made by Big Hug Productions. Norton voiced the character in the series that also featured his other characters, including Uncle Paul Harghis, Jelly, Edgar Mellencamp, and Ted Scheckler. The fund raised over $61,000 from 724 donators.


title: Jim Norton (comedian)

text: In May 2016, Norton became the co-host of "UFC Unfiltered", the first Ultimate Fighting Championship audio podcast, with former fighter Matt Serra. The pair record two episodes each week. The first episode launched on June 21, 2016, and has since run for over 550 episodes. Norton then launched his own weekly audio and video podcast based on his Chip Chipperson character, on the Riotcast network. "The Chip Chipperson Podacast" launched on April 9, 2017. In May 2020, Norton debuted the "Doug Bellcast", a new podcast based on his new character, Doug Bell.


title: Jim Norton (comedian)

text: In 1997, Norton appeared on "The Louie Show" starring Louie Anderson. From 2002 to 2004, Norton was a regular performer on the comedy series "Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn". He then lost his place on the second season of "Last Comic Standing" in 2004 because of a contractual obligation to film pilot episodes for MTV which he had secured following the success of his "One Night Stand" special. The two pilots were "Camp Cool", filmed in Cancun for "MTV Spring Break", also starring Al Shearer about helping men meet women, and "Stupid Bets". His manager advised him not to compete in "Last Comic Standing" as it was a reality show, but he agreed as he was depressed and frustrated with the uncertainty of his career as "Opie and Anthony" had been cancelled. Norton had a contract with Viacom during this time.


title: Jim Norton (comedian)

text: In September 2004, Norton made his first appearance on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno", and appeared twice more by mid-2006. He has appeared many times since, including as a correspondent named "The Uninvited Guest". In April 2005, Norton starred in a pilot episode for Louis C.K.'s HBO sitcom "Lucky Louie", playing as Louie's friend Rich. He landed the role after the series was picked up by the network and aired through 2006. In 2007, Norton co-hosted the AVN Awards with Jessica Drake. In June 2008, Norton appeared in several episodes of "The Gong Show with Dave Attell" as one of the celebrity judges. Since mid-2007, Norton has been a regular guest on "Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfeld" on Fox News which he later credited as a contributor in boosting turnouts to his comedy shows. In 2010, Norton guest-hosted "Red Eye". Starting in 2010, Norton began appearing in Louis C.K.'s FX sitcom "Louie". In 2010, Norton's role in "Bored to Death" was tailored by its creator Jonathan Ames, a fan of his. In 2013, Norton said he had pitched a television show about a sex addict radio show host, but it was not picked up.


title: Jim Norton (comedian)

text: In July 2014, Norton debuted his four-episode talk show, "The Jim Norton Show", on Vice a first for the network. The show featured opening monologues, pre-recorded bits, and guest interviews including co-host Bailey Jay, comedians Dave Attell, Whitney Cummings, and Gilbert Gottfried; and Mike Tyson, Dana White,and "Freeway" Rick Ross. Norton had assistance with the writing from comedians Kurt Metzger and Jesse Joyce. Vice had expressed an interest in filming more episodes, but Norton became unsure if the network had enough time for the project as they had grown in size. Looking back on the project, Norton was pleased with its outcome and entered talks with regard to continuing the format with Vice and other networks. In 2015, Norton starred in an episode of Quinn's parody television series "Cop Show". In April 2016, Norton revealed that he had shot two pilot episodes for a potential comedy series on the AMC channel. Though it was not picked up, the show was reworked into a discussion program where he hosts a panel who talk about a single subject for thirty minutes.


title: Jim Norton (comedian)

text: In early 2007, Norton announced the near completion of his first book, a collection of stories of his life with anecdotes from his childhood and his comedy career. "Happy Endings: The Tales of a Meaty-Breasted Zilch" was released on July 10, 2007. It reached No. 4 on "The New York Times" Best Seller list under hardcover non-fiction, and entered the Amazon.com Top 10 for books the day it was released, peaking at No. 7.


title: Jim Norton (comedian)

text: Norton released his second book, "I Hate Your Guts", on November 4, 2008. It reached No. 13 on "The New York Times" Best Seller list under hardcover non-fiction. He criticizes people in the book, including Al Sharpton, Keith Olbermann, and Steve Martin, which includes a rant that Norton later regretted and has since apologized for to Martin.


title: Jim Norton (comedian)

text: In 2002, Norton appeared on the short film "Crooks", a straight to video release about postal workers stealing stamps. Norton has had various cameo appearances such as in the 2002 film "Spider-Man" and the 2008 film "Zack and Miri Make a Porno". He has also appeared in the films "Furry Vengeance", "Cop Out", and "Special Correspondents". Norton recalled around 2003 being a time when his acting career had gained some momentum.


title: Jim Norton (comedian)

text: In 2016, Norton landed a role in "From Nowhere", a critically acclaimed independent film about three teenagers from the Bronx. This was followed by an appearance in "Pitching Tents". Norton had a pivotal role in the 2008 film "Courting Condi", counseling Devin Ratray on how to win the heart of Condoleezza Rice.


title: Jim Norton (comedian)

text: Norton starred in the crime film "The Irishman" as a young Don Rickles who tells jokes to a crowd with Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci present. He landed the part without an audition, and De Niro requested that Norton perform his own material after using jokes from Rickles's act from the 1970s.


title: Jim Norton (comedian)

text: In 2007, Norton bought an apartment in one of Donald Trump's buildings in the Upper West Side of New York City. He is a longtime fan of Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath, and Kiss and is a close family friend of Osbourne and his wife Sharon. Norton is a supporter of prostitution and transgender people.


title: Lakshmana

text: Lakshmana (, IAST: lakṣmaṇa, lit. "he who has the signs of fortune"), also spelled as Laxmana, was the younger brother of Prince Rama and his loyalist in the Hindu epic "Ramayana". He is also known by other names - Saumitra ( IAST: saumitra, lit. "son of Sumitra"), Ramanuja ( IAST: rāmānuja, lit. "younger brother of Rama") and Bharatanuja ( IAST: bharatānuja, lit. "younger brother of Bharata"). He was the twin of Shatrughna.


title: Lakshmana

text: King Dasharath of Ayodhya had three wives: Kausalya, Kaikeyi and, Sumitra. He performed a sacrifice to beget sons and as a result, his queens became pregnant. Lakshmana and his brother Shatrughna were born to Sumitra, while Rama and Bharata were born to Kausalya and Kaikeyi.


title: Lakshmana

text: In the Puranas, Lakshmana is described as an incarnation of Shesha, the multiple-headed naga (serpent) upon whom rests the preserver deity Vishnu, whose avatar Rama is considered to be.


title: Lakshmana

text: When sage Vishwamitra asked Rama to kill the demons in the forest, Lakshmana accompanied them and went to Mithila with them. Lakshmana was especially attached to Rama. When Rama married Sita, Lakshmana married Sita's younger sister, Urmila. They had two sons: Angada and Chandraketu.


title: Lakshmana

text: Later, when Rama was exiled for fourteen years on the insistence of Kaikeyi, Lakshmana left his wife Urmila and joined Rama and Sita in exile.


title: Lakshmana

text: Lakshmana served Rama and Sita reverently during the exile. In Panchavati, Lakshmana also built a hut for Rama and Sita to live in. Lakshmana cut off Ravana's sister Surpanakha's nose in anger when she tried to seduce Rama and insulted Sita. He played an important role in the war with Ravana and slew Ravana's sons Indrajit and Atikaya.


title: Lakshmana

text: When Sita asked Rama to fetch a magical golden hind for her, Rama asked Lakshmana to stand guard as he sensed danger and evil. The golden hind was in fact the demon Maricha, who distracted Rama. When Rama killed Maricha, he cried out in his own voice for help. Although Lakshmana knew that Rama was invincible and beyond any danger, Sita panicked and frantically ordered Lakshmana to go to Rama's aid immediately. Unable to disobey Sita, Lakshmana drew a perimeter line (Lakshmana Rekha or Lakshmana's line), which Sita must not cross and went in search of Rama. Sita, however, out of compulsion of religious duty and compassion for Ravana, who was disguised as a poor Brahmin, crossed the line to give him alms, following which she was abducted.


title: Lakshmana

text: During the war between Rama and Ravana, Lakshmana killed Indrajit and Atikaya, who were the sons of Ravana. Before he killed Indrajit, Lakhshmana and Rama were twice defeated by Indrajit, and on both occasions, Hanuman's intervention saved them from certain death. After the battle, Sage Agastya came to Ayodhya. Sage said, Meghnad was not a ordinary demon, he was conqueror of Indralok. He also possessed the three ultimate weapon of Trimurty, Brahmastra, Narayanastra and Pashupatastra. He could only be killed by someone who has not eaten, slept or seen face of a woman for 14 years. Peoples were surprised that how Lakshman could fulfill these conditions.


title: Lakshmana

text: Lakshman explained that, he didn’t sleep for 14 years to guard Ram and Sita at night. Before going to exile mother sumitra said lakshman to guard Ram and Sita while they sleep. He is also known as Gudakesh.


title: Lakshmana

text: He didn’t eat for 14 years because Ram gave him food but never asked him to eat it. Lakshman in his loyalty believed that he was born to serve Lord Rama and so he never did anything without being told.


title: Lakshmana

text: He had never seen face of any lady during exile, though he was staying with Ram and Sita but he never saw Sita’s face, he always gazed at her feet. Thus, he was not able to recognize any of Sita’s jewelry except her ankle.


title: Lakshmana

text: After the end of the Lanka war, Rama was crowned King of Kosala, and Bharata became the crown prince. Rama had offered to make Lakshmana the crown prince, but he refused, saying Bharata was elder to him and more deserving of the title. Rama, hearing this, was very pleased and said "O Lakshmana, in this birth, you served me so well and did your duties as a younger brother, so I will do the same in my next birth as your younger brother". Thus, in the next birth, Rama became Krishna and Lakshmana became Balarama, Krishna's elder brother.


title: Lakshmana

text: Lakshmana was the one who left Sita in the forests near sage Valmiki's ashram after she expressed her desire to leave the kingdom. Lakshmana remained loyal to his brother and fought against Rama's sons Lava and Kusha later on.


title: Lakshmana

text: According to the Uttara Kanda, Lakshmana had ruled over Karupada; which was inherited by his elder son, Angada; whilst Lakshmana's younger son, Chandraketu had inherited Mallya, with its capital Chandrakanti being commissioned by Lord Rama.


title: Lakshmana

text: Sage Durvasa appeared at Rama's doorstep, and seeing Lakshmana guarding the door, demanded an audience with Rama. At the time, Rama was having a private conversation with Yama. Before the conversation began, Yama gave Rama strict instructions that their dialogue was to remain confidential, and anyone who entered the room was to be relieved of their life. Rama agreed and entrusted Lakshmana with the duty of guarding his door. When Durvasa made his demand, Lakshmana politely refused. The sage grew angry and threatened to curse all of Ayodhya if Lakshmana did not immediately inform Rama of his arrival. Lakshmana, in a dilemma, decided it would be better that he alone die to save all of Ayodhya from falling under Durvasa's curse and so interrupted Rama's meeting to inform him of the sage's arrival. Durvasa cursed him that he should go to heaven alive. Rama quickly concluded his meeting with Yama and received the sage with due courtesy. In order to fulfil his brother's promise, Lakshmana went to the banks of the river Sarayu, resolved on giving up the world by drowning himself in the Sarayu. From there, Indra removed Lakshmana from the water and took him alive to heaven


title: Lakshmana

text: Lakshmana was depicted by the Ramayana as a man with unwavering loyalty, love and commitment to his elder brother, through times of joy and adversity alike.


title: Lakshmana

text: Bandhavgarh Fort at Madhya Pradesh ("bandhav" as brother, "garh" as fort) was said to have been given by Rama to his brother Lakshmana to keep watch on Lanka.


title: Lakshmana

text: Military officers given the rank equivalent of admirals in navies in the Malay Archipelago, including Malaysia and Indonesia, are titled "Lakshmana" (Jawi script: ) after the figure.


title: Lakshmana

text: Lakshmana is referred to as Vasudeva in the Jain Ramayana. According to the Jain Ramayana, it was Lakshmana who killed Ravana, not Rama.


title: Sukhumi

text: Sukhumi (, ) or Sokhumi (, ), also known by its Abkhaz name Aqwa (, "Aqwa"), is a city in a wide bay on the Black Sea's eastern coast. It is both the capital and largest city of the Republic of Abkhazia, which has controlled it since the Abkhazia war in 1992–93. However, internationally Abkhazia is considered part of Georgia. The city, which has an airport, is a port, major rail junction and a holiday resort because of its beaches, sanatoriums, mineral-water spas and semitropical climate. It is also a member of the International Black Sea Club.


title: Sukhumi

text: Sukhumi's history can be traced to the 6th century BC, when it was settled by Greeks, who named it Dioscurias. During this time and the subsequent Roman period, much of the city disappeared under the Black Sea. The city was named Tskhumi when it became part of the Kingdom of Abkhazia and then the Kingdom of Georgia. Contested by local princes, it became part of the Ottoman Empire in the 1570s, where it remained until it was conquered by the Russian Empire in 1810. After a period of conflict during the Russian Civil War, it became part of the independent Georgia, which included Abkhazia, in 1918. In 1921, the Democratic Republic of Georgia was occupied by Soviet Bolshevik forces from Russia. Within the Soviet Union, it was regarded as a holiday resort. As the Soviet Union broke up in the early 1990s, the city suffered significant damage during the Abkhaz–Georgian conflict. The present-day population of 60,000 is only half of the population living there toward the end of Soviet rule.


title: Sukhumi

text: In Georgian, the city is known as "Sokhumi" (სოხუმი), amongst Samurzakans in Megrelian the city is sometimes referred to as "Aqujikha" (აყუჯიხა), and in Russian as Сухум ("Sukhum") or Сухуми ("Sukhumi"). The toponym Sokhumi derives from the Georgian word "Tskhomi/Tskhumi" (ცხომი/ცხუმი), which in turn is supposed to be derived from Svan tskhum (ცხუმ) meaning "hornbeam tree". In Abkhaz, the city is known as "Aqwa" (Аҟәа) which is believed to derive from "a-qwara" (а-ҟәара), meaning "stony seashore". According to Abkhaz tradition "Aqwa" (Аҟәа) signifies "water".


title: Sukhumi

text: Medieval Georgian sources knew the town as "Tskhumi" (ცხუმი). Later, under Ottoman control, the town was known in Turkish as "Suhum-Kale", which was derived from the earlier Georgian form Tskhumi or read to mean "Tskhumi fortress".


title: Sukhumi

text: The ending -i in the above forms represents the Georgian nominative suffix. The town was officially called Сухум ("Sukhum") in Russian until 16 August 1936, when this was changed to "Sukhumi" (Сухуми). This remained so until 4 December 1992, when the Supreme Council of Abkhazia restored the previous version. Russia also readopted its official spelling in 2008, though Сухуми is also still being used.


title: Sukhumi

text: In English, the most common form today is "Sukhumi", although "Sokhumi" is increasing in usage and has been adopted by sources including "United Nations", "Encyclopædia Britannica", "MSN Encarta", Esri and Google Maps.


title: Sukhumi

text: The history of the city began in the mid-6th century BC when an earlier settlement of the second and early first millennia BC, frequented by local Colchian tribes, was replaced by the Milesian Greek colony of Dioscurias (). The city is said to have been founded and named by the Dioscuri, the twins Castor and Pollux of classical mythology. According to another legend it was founded by Amphitus and Cercius of Sparta, the charioteers of the Dioscuri. The Greek pottery found in Eshera, further north along the coast, predates findings in the area of Sukhumi bay by a century suggesting that the centre of the original Greek settlement could have been there.


title: Sukhumi

text: It became busily engaged in the commerce between Greece and the indigenous tribes, importing salt and wares from many parts of Greece, and exporting local timber, linen, and hemp. It was also a prime center of slave trade in Colchis. The city and its surroundings were remarkable for the multitude of languages spoken in its bazaars.


title: Sukhumi

text: Although the sea made serious inroads upon the territory of Dioscurias, it continued to flourish and became one of the key cities in the realm of Mithridates VI of Pontus in the 2nd century BC and supported his cause until the end. Dioscurias issued bronze coinage around 100 BC featuring the symbols of the Dioskuri and Dionysus. Under the Roman emperor Augustus the city assumed the name of Sebastopolis (). But its prosperity was past, and in the 1st century Pliny the Elder described the place as virtually deserted though the town still continued to exist during the times of Arrian in the 130s. The remains of towers and walls of Sebastopolis have been found underwater; on land the lowest levels so far reached by archaeologists are of the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. According to Gregory of Nyssa there were Christians in the city in the late 4th century. In 542 the Romans evacuated the town and demolished its citadel to prevent it from being captured by Sasanian Empire. In 565, however, the emperor Justinian I restored the fort and Sebastopolis continued to remain one of the Byzantine strongholds in Colchis until being sacked by the Arab conqueror Marwan II in 736.


title: Sukhumi

text: Afterwards, the town came to be known as Tskhumi. Restored by the kings of Abkhazia from the Arab devastation, it particularly flourished during the Georgian Golden Age in the 12th–13th centuries, when Tskhumi became a center of traffic with the European maritime powers, particularly with the Republic of Genoa. Early in the 14th century the Genoese established their short-lived trading factory in Tskhumi and a Catholic bishopric existed there which is now a titular see. The city of Tskhumi became the summer residence of the Georgian kings. According to Russian scholar V. Sizov, it became an important “cultural and administrative center of the Georgian state. A Later Tskhumi served as capital of the Odishi — Megrelian rulers, it was in this city that Vamek I ( 1384–1396), the most influential Dadiani, minted his coins. Documents of the 15th century clearly distinguished Tskhumi from Principality of Abkhazia. The Ottoman navy occupied the town in 1451, but for a short time. Later contested between the princes of Abkhazia and Mingrelia, Tskhumi finally fell to the Turks in the 1570s. The new masters heavily fortified the town and called it Sohumkale, with "kale" meaning "fort" but the first part of the name of disputed origin. It may represent Turkish "su", "water", and "kum", "sand", but is more likely to be an alteration of its earlier Georgian name.


title: Sukhumi

text: At the request of the pro-Russian Abkhazian prince, the town was stormed by the Russian Marines in 1810 and turned, subsequently, into a major outpost in the North West Caucasus. (See Russian conquest of the Caucasus). Sukhumi was declared the seaport in 1847 and was directly annexed to the Russian Empire after the ruling Shervashidze princely dynasty was ousted by the Russian authorities in 1864. During the Russo-Turkish War, 1877–1878, the town was temporarily controlled by the Ottoman forces and Abkhaz-Adyghe rebels. After its annexation, Sukhumi became the administrative center of the Sukhumi Okrug of the Kutais Governorate.


title: Sukhumi

text: Following the Russian Revolution of 1917, the town and Abkhazia in general were engulfed in the chaos of the Russian Civil War. A short-lived Bolshevik government was suppressed in May 1918 and Sukhumi was incorporated into the Democratic Republic of Georgia as a residence of the autonomous People's Council of Abkhazia and the headquarters of the Georgian governor-general. The Red Army and the local revolutionaries took the city from the Georgian forces on 4 March 1921, and declared Soviet rule. Sukhumi functioned as the capital of the "Union treaty" Abkhaz Soviet Socialist Republic associated with the Georgian SSR from 1921 until 1931, when it became the capital of the Abkhazian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic within the Georgian SSR. By 1989, Sukhumi had 120,000 inhabitants and was one of the most prosperous cities of Georgia. Many holiday dachas for Soviet leaders were situated there.


title: Sukhumi

text: Beginning with the 1989 riots, Sukhumi was a centre of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict, and the city was severely damaged during the 1992–1993 War. During the war, the city and its environs suffered almost daily air strikes and artillery shelling, with heavy civilian casualties. On 27 September 1993 the battle for Sukhumi was concluded by a full-scale campaign of ethnic cleansing against its majority Georgian population (see Sukhumi Massacre), including members of the pro-Georgian Abkhazian government (Zhiuli Shartava, Raul Eshba and others) and mayor of Sukhumi Guram Gabiskiria.


title: Sukhumi

text: Although the city has been relatively peaceful and partially rebuilt, it is still suffering the after-effects of the war, and it has not regained its earlier ethnic diversity. A relatively large infrastructure reconstruction program was launched in 2019–2020 focusing on the renovation of the waterfront, rebuilding city roads and cleaning city parks. Its population in 2017 was 65,716, compared to about 120,000 in 1989. During summer holidays season its population usually doubles and triples with a large inflow of international tourists.


title: Sukhumi

text: Most of the inhabitants belong to the Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic Churches, Islam and the Abkhaz traditional religion.


title: Sukhumi

text: Sukhumi theatres which offer classical and modern performances, with the theatre season lasting from September to June. Several galleries and museums exhibit modern and historical Abkhaz visual art. Sukhumi Botanical Garden was established in 1840 and is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the Caucasus.


title: Sukhumi

text: Sukhumi houses a number of historical monuments, notably the Besleti Bridge built during the reign of queen Tamar of Georgia in the 12th century. It also retains visible vestiges of the defunct monuments, including the Roman walls, the medieval Castle of Bagrat, several towers of the Kelasuri Wall, also known as Great Abkhazian Wall, constructed between 1628 and 1653 by Levan II Dadiani to protect his fiefdom from the Abkhaz tribes; the 14th-century Genoese fort and the 18th-century Ottoman fortress. The 11th century Kamani Monastery ( from Sukhumi) is erected, according to tradition, over the tomb of Saint John Chrysostom. Some from Sukhumi lies New Athos with the ruins of the medieval city of Anacopia. The Neo-Byzantine New Athos Monastery was constructed here in the 1880s on behest of Tsar Alexander III of Russia.


title: Sukhumi

text: Northward in the mountains is the Krubera Cave, one of the deepest in the world, with a depth of 2,140 meters.


title: Sukhumi

text: The city hosts a number of research and educational institutions, including the Abkhazian State University, the Sukhumi Open Institute and about a half a dozen of vocational education colleges. From 1945 to 1954 the city's electron physics laboratory was involved in the Soviet program to develop nuclear weapons. Additionally, the Abkhaz State Archive is located in the city.


title: Sukhumi

text: Until 19th century young people from Abkhazia usually received their education mainly at religious schools (Muslims at Madrasas and Christians at Seminaries), although a small number of children from wealthy families had opportunity to travel to foreign countries for education.


title: Sukhumi

text: The first modern educational institutions (both schools and colleges) were established in the late 19th-early 20th century and rapidly grew until the second half of the 20th century. For example, the number of college students grew from few dozens in the 1920s to several thousands in the 1980s.


title: Sukhumi

text: According to the official statistical data, Abkhazia has 12 TVET colleges (as of 2019, est.) providing education and vocational training to youth mostly in the capital city, though there are several colleges in all major district centers. Independent international assessments suggest that these colleges train in about 20 different specialties attracting between 1200 and 1500 young people annually (aged between 16 and 29) (as of 2019, est.). The largest colleges are as follows:


title: Sukhumi

text: Higher education in Sukhumi currently is represented by one university, Abkhazian State University, which has a special status in the education system in Abkhazia and it manages its own budget.


title: Sukhumi

text: Abkhaz State University (1979), has its own campus which is a home for 42 departments organized into 8 faculties providing education to about 3300 students (as of 2019, est.).


title: Sukhumi

text: Sukhumi has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen "Cfa"), that is almost cool enough in summer to be an oceanic climate ("Cfb").


title: Sukhumi

text: On 2 February 2000, President Ardzinba dismissed temporary Mayor Leonid Osia and appointed Leonid Lolua in his stead. Lolua was reappointed on 10 May 2001 following the March 2001 local elections.


title: Sukhumi

text: On 5 November 2004, in the heated aftermath of the 2004 presidential election, president Vladislav Ardzinba appointed head of the Gulripshi District assembly Adgur Kharazia as acting mayor. During his first speech he called upon the two leading candidates, Sergei Bagapsh and Raul Khadjimba, to both withdraw.


title: Sukhumi

text: On 16 February 2005, after his election as president, Bagapsh replaced Kharazia with Astamur Adleiba, who had been Minister for Youth, Sports, Resorts and Tourism until December 2004. In the 11 February 2007 local elections, Adleiba successfully defended his seat in the Sukhumi city assembly and was thereupon reappointed mayor by Bagapsh on 20 March.


title: Sukhumi

text: In April 2007, while President Bagapsh was in Moscow for medical treatment, the results of an investigation into corruption within the Sukhumi city administration were made public. The investigation found that large sums had been embezzled and upon his return, on 2 May, Bagapsh fired Adleiba along with his deputy Boris Achba, the head of the Sukhumi's finance department Konstantin Tuzhba and the head of the housing department David Jinjolia. On 4 June Adleiba paid back to the municipal budget 200,000 rubels. and on 23 July, he resigned from the Sukhumi city council, citing health reasons and the need to travel abroad for medical treatment.


title: Sukhumi

text: On 15 May 2007, president Bagapsh released Alias Labakhua as First Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Committee and appointed him acting Mayor of Sukhumi, a post temporarily fulfilled by former Vice-Mayor Anzor Kortua. On 27 May Labakhua appointed Vadim Cherkezia as Deputy Chief of staff. On 2 September, Labakhua won the by-election in constituency No. 21, which had become necessary after Adleiba relinquished his seat. Adleiba was the only candidate and voter turnout was 34%, higher than the 25% required. Since Adleiba was now a member of the city assembly, president Bagapsh could permanently appoint him Mayor of Sukhumi on 18 September.


title: Sukhumi

text: Following the May 2014 Revolution and the election of Raul Khajimba as president, he on 22 October dismissed Labakhua and again appointed (as acting Mayor) Adgur Kharazia, who at that point was Vice Speaker of the People's Assembly. Kharazia won the 4 April 2015 by-election to the City Council in constituency no. 3 unopposed, and was confirmed as mayor by Khajimba on 4 May. The 6th convocation of the Sukhumi City Council was elected 13 April 2016.


title: Heather Hunter

text: Heather Keisha Hunter (born October 1, 1969), nicknamed Double H, is an American rapper, painter, author, and pornographic actress. She is a member of the AVN and XRCO Halls of Fame.


title: Heather Hunter

text: Hunter was born in The Bronx, New York, to a funeral salesman. She left home at 16 and supported herself by working as a clerk at the Latin Quarter, one of the first downtown/midtown clubs to play rap. At the age of 18, she answered an ad in "The Village Voice" for striptease artists. Pictorials in "Players" and "Swank" followed. Subsequently, the offers to appear in pornographic films started to emerge.


title: Heather Hunter

text: Hunter entered the adult film business in 1988 and her career peaked in the mid-'90s. She was one of the few performers to use her actual name rather than a stage alias. She became known for her interracial- and lesbian-themed films. In her hometown she was a mainstay on the "Robin Byrd Show" and was a frequent performer.


title: Heather Hunter

text: From 1990 to 1992, during her Los Angeles years, Hunter was a dancer on the TV show "Soul Train". Hunter has described how she was able to conceal her porn career from "Soul Train" producer Don Cornelius. She also played the role of a hooker in the black comedy horror film Frankenhooker as Chartreuse.


title: Heather Hunter

text: She got her start while dancing at the Latin Quarter in New York City, where she met adult film actress Hyapatia Lee, who suggested she perform in movies. Her first video, "Heather Hunter On Fire", came out in 1988. She did a few low-budget movies for New York-based Vidway before moving to Los Angeles and eventually becoming the first African-American woman to be a Vivid Entertainment contract girl. She has 51 videos and 1 directorial effort to her credit on the Internet Adult Film Database; her final adult video appears to be "Honeywood", released in 1999. Old scenes with Hunter continue to be released in numerous compilations.


title: Heather Hunter

text: In 1996, she, Nina Hartley, and Angel Kelly appeared in the music video of Tupac Shakur's "How Do U Want It".


title: Heather Hunter

text: Hunter was inducted into the AVN Hall of Fame in 2003. The same year she starred in her own animated cartoon series, "Bulletproof Diva", in which she saves the world from the inhabitants of Hell.


title: Heather Hunter

text: Hunter has been involved with music professionally since 1993, when she was under contract with Island Records doing House music. She released a song titled "I Want It All Night Long." Hunter later worked for Tommy Boy Records without much progress, as the company did not know whether to market her as an R&B or pop singer.


title: Heather Hunter

text: Hunter released an 18-track rap music album on July 12, 2005, titled "Double H: The Unexpected". She released the music through Blo Records label, owned by her long-time manager, Dave Copeland. Hunter is the company's CEO. In creating the album, she worked with well-known music producers DJ Premier and Scott Storch. Guests on her album include Akinyele, Madison Taylor, plus Chalu and Erin Yes. Hunter's old adult movie friend Janet Jacme appears on the interlude of "My Toolbox." "So Serious" was the only single released from the album. The single and her album's title refers to Hunter's desire to be taken seriously as a hip-hop musician. Hunter said in a "VIBE" interview:


title: Heather Hunter

text: From 1998 to 2000, Hunter hosted "The Peep Show" on pay-per-view TV. The program was originally hosted by rapper Luther Campbell as "Luke's Peep Show." It was a raunchy interview show that aired uncensored music videos. On a 1998 episode, she met rapper Akinyele, who encouraged her to pursue a music career after hearing a sample of her raps. He later appeared with Mr. Cee on "Double H: The Unexpected".


title: Heather Hunter

text: Hunter has recorded with Esham ("All Night Everyday" off his album "Tongues"). Songs also feature Kool Keith ("I Wanna Play" off his album "Spankmaster"), N.O.R.E. ("Big D" off his album "God's Favorite". Also features Akinyele & Khia), Bubba Sparxxx ("Would You Like", which was cut from his album "Deliverance"), Above the Law ("Freak In Me" and "Playas, Gangstas And Ballers" from their album "Sex, Money & Music").


title: Heather Hunter

text: Hunter has had an interest in art since she was a child, when she began painting portraits of family members. She furthered this love by majoring in design and illustration at High School of Fashion Industries in New York City. For a short time during her teenage years, she was involved in illegal graffiti art as Ms. 45, but quit after being cited by the police. She enrolled in a special workshop under the direction of renowned street artist, Keith Haring.


title: Heather Hunter

text: In June 2006, Hunter opened her own art gallery, Artcore-NYC, in the DUMBO section of Brooklyn, New York. She debuted her "Hunter Collection" paintings as the gallery's first exhibition. The gallery was located at 111 Front Street, and as of 2007 there was an ongoing search for a new location.


title: Heather Hunter

text: She wrote a novel, "Insatiable: The Rise of a Porn Star", by Hunter and Michelle Valentine, which was published on July 24, 2007, by St. Martin's Press. It purports to tell the story of Simone Young, a young woman with a career and background similar to Hunter's. In an interview, Hunter implied that her story would be fictionalized to protect the privacy of others. A plagiarism suit was filed against Hunter by Dianne Miller; Miller claimed she gave a manuscript to Hunter back in 2005 and Hunter used a number of passages verbatim from Miller's manuscript for her own novel. In November 2008, a judge dismissed most of the claims against Hunter.


title: WWE 2K

text: WWE 2K, formerly released as WWF/E SmackDown! and SmackDown vs. Raw, is a series of professional wrestling sports video games that launched in 2000. The premise of the series is to emulate the sport of professional wrestling, and more specifically, that of WWE.


title: WWE 2K

text: The games were originally published by THQ and developed by Yuke's. 2K Sports took over as publisher beginning with 2013's "WWE 2K14", and the series was co-developed with Visual Concepts until Yuke's departure in 2018. Visual Concepts would take over lead development of the series beginning with "WWE 2K20" in 2019.


title: WWE 2K

text: The first game, "WWF SmackDown!", was developed by Yuke's, published by THQ, and released on March 2, 2000; this arrangement would continue until 2012. The series was originally named after one of WWE's weekly television programs, "SmackDown", and was initially exclusive to Sony's PlayStation 2. The series engine was originally based on the one used by the Japanese "Toukon Retsuden", which was also developed by Yuke's.


title: WWE 2K

text: The series rebranded with 2004's "WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw", following the introduction of the brand extension, which saw WWE's roster divided between the SmackDown and Raw brands; the latter named after WWE's flagship program, "Monday Night Raw". After using subtitles in previous installments, voice overs were introduced to the game's "Season Mode". With the exception of 2003's "WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain", pre-recorded commentary by WWE commentators has been included in each game since the release of "WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It" in 2001.


title: WWE 2K

text: Yuke's studios in Yokohama, Japan worked with WWE writers to create storylines for the "Season" modes of each game since 2005's "WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006". Up until the release of "SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006", Yuke's had released previous entries of the series in Japan under the title of "Exciting Pro Wrestling". That year, THQ took over as the Japanese publisher and rebranded the "Exciting Pro Wrestling" series under the western name.


title: WWE 2K

text: 2006's "WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007" was the first game in the series to be released for multiple game consoles. The series continued to expand to various seventh-generation consoles, handhelds, and mobile devices. Yuke's revealed they had to port their original game codes that make up each game mode and graphic designs to a new game engine that supported the new consoles. When new features are added to future games, the developers had to create new gaming codes for these features. The developers also had to test the game for any errors.


title: WWE 2K

text: The series relaunched in 2011 with the release of "WWE '12". However, after THQ's bankruptcy, liquidation, and eventual dissolution in January 2013, publishing rights for the WWE video games were acquired by Take-Two Interactive. Take-Two confirmed the acquisition in February, saying that it would also retain the services of Yuke's and the THQ staff that worked on the "WWE" series. As a result, the "WWE" branding would be retired with 2012's "WWE '13".


title: WWE 2K

text: 2013's "WWE 2K14" was the first game to be released under the 2K Sports branding. In 2015, a mobile-only spin-off was released for Android and iOS. 2K's license of the series extended in early 2016. 2018's "WWE 2K19" was the last game in the series to be developed by Yuke's.


title: WWE 2K

text: 2019's "WWE 2K20" was the first game in the series to be developed solely by Visual Concepts, who had worked with Yuke's on previous games under the "WWE 2K" banner. The game received generally negative reviews for various changes seen as a regression from "2K19", and for numerous bugs and technical issues upon its launch. The series went on a two-year hiatus in response, with "WWE 2K Battlegrounds" released in 2020 as a replacement for a previously-planned "WWE 2K21" game. "WWE 2K22", the twenty-second instalment of the series, was released in March 2022 to a generally more favourable reception than its predecessor.


title: WWE 2K

text: The first game in the series, "WWF SmackDown!", had a clear cut system for moves such as combining an arrow key with the circle button for grappling and moves and combining an arrow key with the X button for striking moves. Most of the later games, from "WWF SmackDown! 2: Know Your Role" to "WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2006" used the aforementioned control scheme. With "WWE SmackDown vs Raw 2007" new game mechanics were introduced, in which a new control scheme altered the grappling system of the game, called "Ultimate Control moves". Unlike the previous games, where the player pressed two buttons to perform a grapple or an attack, players were able to place their opponents into a grapple position and then choose to perform a move by moving the directional buttons of their system's controller. For example, the player could place their opponent in a suplex grappling position and then either perform a normal suplex or an inverted suplex slam. Before the release of "WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008", in order for players to force a character to submit, they had to tap buttons to move a marker towards the end of the meter labeled "Submit", and the only way for opponents to escape was for them to move the meter towards "Escape". Included with the release of "WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008" was a new submission system, in which the player had to move the analog sticks of their system's controller in different directions to force the opponent to submit, while the opponent could do the same to escape the submission hold.


title: WWE 2K

text: Every game in the "SmackDown vs. Raw" series used to have the amount of damage inflicted to the player's chosen character, measured with a meter on the HUD, where a design of a male figure presented the damage. As a move was performed against a character, the affected area of the body flashed—the more damage that is done to that specific body part, the more likely it is for the character to submit. Colors were used to represent the amount of damage done to a specific body area; yellow represented minimal damage, orange represented moderate damage, and red represented maximum damage.


title: WWE 2K

text: Included with the release of "WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw" was the option of fighting "dirty" or "clean". When players select "dirty", the player character is booed by the audience in the game; conversely, the "clean" character is cheered by the audience. With the "dirty" or "clean" option comes the inclusion of performing a special maneuver when playing. Players using a "dirty" character must direct them into building up their "dirty" meter by performing "dirty" tactics, such as attacking the referee or taking the pad off the ring's turnbuckle. Unlike performing dirty tactics, "clean" characters build their meters by performing "clean" tactics, such as an aerial technique or performing a taunt. When "dirty" character' meters build up, they are able to perform a signature low blow; likewise, "clean" characters can perform their signature move at double its normal damage.


title: WWE 2K

text: With the release of "WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006" was the inclusion of a stamina system, which was a measure of the characters' stamina. The stamina system was measured by a meter on the HUD; the meter decreased when performing a variety of moves. The meter increases, however, when the player does nothing with the character or holds down a selected button that increased the stamina, which varied depending on the player's system. When the character's stamina was low, the wrestler reacted by moving slower when performing moves, walking, and running. If the meter decreased completely, they fell to the ground until the meter increased. This system is disabled by default for "WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008" and was disabled until 2K took over the series, bringing in a similar system with "WWE 2K16".


title: WWE 2K

text: The weak/strong grapple system from the past games was removed from "WWE '12" onwards. Characters now perform different moves based on their opponent's current physical state. Players now have a window of opportunity to attack while still in a downed state and can also interrupt moves and Royal Rumble eliminations with attacks. Similarly, the pinning meter from the past games has been reworked to make it more difficult to kick out as a wrestler takes more damage. The game's artificial intelligence has also been adjusted to prevent players from overusing the same move. In addition, the ability to store finishing moves has returned. "Dynamic Comebacks" gives players on the verge of losing the opportunity to successfully hit a combination of moves to gain two finishing moves. New "wake up taunts" bring a downed opponent to their feet for a finishing move (such as pounding on the ground before RKO finishing maneuver). Players also have the ability to target specific limbs during matches and perform submissions through a "Breaking Point" submission minigame.


title: WWE 2K

text: In the "WWE SmackDown vs. Raw" series, the player was able to choose a character from a roster and compete in an arcade-like feature called season mode. In season mode, players direct their characters through different career obstacles through a year of WWE programming to gain respect by other wrestlers and popularity among the fans. Like storylines from WWE, the characters in the "WWE SmackDown vs. Raw" series season mode are involved in storylines that affect their career mode in some way. Beginning with the release of "WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth", the WWE Brand Extension has been included in season mode, and characters are exclusive to one brand of WWE. A result of this feature is that the player's character may only wrestle others and compete for championships from the same brand on which they are a part of. In season mode, the player's character has the ability to earn and wrestle for a variety of championships based on actual WWE Championships. When characters win championships, their respect and popularity increase, which also increases their involvement in main event matches. As the character's respect and popularity increases through the year of WWE programming, it becomes more likely for the player to achieve the main goal in season mode, which is to earn a World Heavyweight Championship or WWE Championship match at WrestleMania, the WWE's flagship pay-per-view event and the final stage in season mode. After the final stage, season modes begins again with the same character chosen before, though the player has the option of switching characters. They are then a part of the WWE Draft Lottery and assigned to a brand.


title: WWE 2K

text: Other than the season mode, every game features an exhibition mode, where different professional wrestling match types are available. Basic matches included in every game are "one-on-one" matches, where a player chooses one character to wrestle another bot operated or human operated character, or tag team matches, where a pair of characters team together to face another team, Mixed Gender Tag Team matches have been removed in "WWE 2K18". These basic matches may also expand into six-man tag team matches or non-elimination type matches, which include four or more characters. Besides basic matches, hardcore based matches are also included, such as the Steel Cage match, which has been included in every game, the Ladder match, the Elimination Chamber, which was first included with the release of "WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain", and ECW Extreme Rules matches, which is basic hardcore wrestling based on the ECW brand of WWE (which first appeared with the release of "WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008"). Also included in every game is the Royal Rumble match, which is based on WWE's actual Royal Rumble match, in which a player chooses to compete as one character, and must wrestle against twenty-nine other characters.


title: WWE 2K

text: Starting with the release of "WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw", online gameplay was made available through PlayStation 2's Sony Network Adapter. Online gameplay was kept at a minimum, as online players only had two game modes to compete in: one-on-one and a Bra and Panties match, in which a player competes as a WWE Diva and strips the opposition of her clothes, until she is left with only her undergarments. When "WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006" was released, the online gameplay was changed, and players were able to compete in more match types, defend the created championships, and compete with up to four players in each match. With the release of "WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008" on the Xbox 360 console (PS3 would not see this feature until "WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009"), players were able to select music from their system's hard disk drive into the video game, where the music can be used in character' ring entrances.


title: WWE 2K

text: Every game in the "WWE" series includes a roster of characters, "superstars" and "divas", based on people who perform for WWE. Every year, WWE acquires new people and releases old ones. As a result, every time a "WWE SmackDown vs. Raw" game is released, the new characters are added into the game and the old are removed from the game to reflect the changes in the actual WWE. From the release of "WWF SmackDown!" to the release of "WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It", characters were not divided into brands. In 2002, the WWE split its roster into two brands of wrestling, called Raw and SmackDown!, which were named after WWE's television shows. The WWE Brand Extension was first featured in "WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth". In 2006, WWE launched a new brand, called ECW, which was named after the original Extreme Championship Wrestling promotion. The new ECW brand was first featured in "WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008". WWE holds an annual draft lottery, in which WWE characters switch brands. The games in production when the draft occurs include the changes that take place in the draft. For example, when "WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008" was in production during June 2007, the 2007 WWE Draft took place, and the draft changes were included in the video game. Another brand of wrestling included in the series is the legends program, which was first included with the release of "WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain". Popular WWE alumni or members of the WWE Hall of Fame have been included since then under the legends program. This was featured up until the release of "WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008", as alumni and Hall of Fame members were not featured in "WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009" due to production of "WWE Legends of WrestleMania". "WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009" was also the first game to feature characters as downloadable content (DLC).


title: WWE 2K

text: "WWE '12" has 56 wrestlers and 78 by DLC, "WWE '13" with 84 and 107 by DLC, "WWE 2K14" with 82 and 103 by DLC, "WWE 2K15" with 76 and 113 with DLC, "WWE 2K16" with 133 including DLC giving this title "the highest character roster in the video game's history" with 165. "WWE 2K17" carries 145 for the physical disc versions for PS3 and Xbox 360; 150 for the NXT Edition made for PS4 and Xbox One with DLC at 172. "WWE 2K18" contains 197 for the standard version (202 via Deluxe and Collector's Edition) with DLC announced at a later date. An update on the "WWE 2K18" roster revealed on September 25, 2017, the final roster is 220 (197 on disc virtually reading 204 by attires counted). "WWE 2K19" has 217 characters on disc (224 via Woo Edition) and 236 with DLC counted as final. "WWE 2K20" has 217 characters on disc (221 via SmackDown 20th Anniversary Edition) with DLC yet to be finalized.


title: WWE 2K

text: The series features a create-a-superstar mode, where players are able to create their own wrestler, including their move set and ring entrances. The feature was introduced when "WWF SmackDown!" was released in 2000. As new games were released, the mode was altered; the first change came with the release of "WWF SmackDown! 2: Know Your Role", which featured a mode in which wrestler taunts could be created and customized. This was further modified in "WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth", which enabled players to create the walking style of a wrestler. With the release of "WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2006", the game first featured the ability for players to make an entrance for the created character. The feature was expanded with the release of "WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007", as players could place pyrotechnics and special effects in any part of the character's entrance.


title: WWE 2K

text: The original "WWF SmackDown!" sold over 975,000 units for the PlayStation, and selling over one million copies in the United States. By 2003, the series had sold more than units for the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 in the United States.


title: WWE 2K

text: The series as a whole initially received generally positive reviews, however, overall reception would began to decline in the late 2000s, as later games were criticized for their lack of innovations or improvements from previous installments.


title: Visalia, California

text: Visalia ( ) is a city in the agricultural San Joaquin Valley of California. The population was 141,384 as per the 2020 census. Visalia is the fifth-largest city in the San Joaquin Valley, the 42nd most populous in California, and 192nd in the United States. As the county seat of Tulare County, Visalia serves as the economic and governmental center to one of the most productive agricultural counties in the country.


title: Visalia, California

text: Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon National Parks are located in the nearby Sierra Nevada mountains, the highest mountain range within the contiguous United States. Visalia is west of Sequoia National Park, and south of Fresno.


title: Visalia, California

text: The area around Visalia was first settled by the Yokuts and Mono Native American tribes hundreds of years ago. When the first Europeans arrived is unknown, but the first to make a written record of the area was Pedro Fages in 1722.


title: Visalia, California

text: When California achieved statehood in 1850, Tulare County did not exist. The land that is now Tulare County was part of the vast County of Mariposa. In 1852, some pioneers settled in the area, then called Four Creeks. The area got its name from the many watershed creeks and rivers flowing from the Sierra Nevada Mountains. All the water resulted in a widespread swampy area with a magnificent oak forest. The industrious group of settlers petitioned the state legislature for county status, and on July 10 of that same year, Tulare County became a reality.


title: Visalia, California

text: One of the first inhabitants of a fort built by the settlers was Nathaniel Vise, who was responsible for surveying the new settlement. In November 1852, he wrote, "The town contains from 60–80 inhabitants, 30 of whom are children of school age. The town is located upon one of the subdivisions of the Kaweah River and is destined to be the county seat of Tulare." In 1853, that prediction became a reality and Visalia has remained the county seat since that time. Visalia is named for Nathaniel Vise's ancestral home, Visalia, Kentucky.


title: Visalia, California

text: Early growth in Visalia can be attributed in part to the gold rush along the Kern River. The gold fever brought many transient miners through Visalia along the way, and when the lure of gold failed to materialize, many returned to Visalia to live their lives and raise families. In 1859, Visalia was added to John Butterfield's Overland Stage route from St. Louis to San Francisco. A plaque commemorating the location can be found at 116 East Main Street. Included in the early citizens were some notorious and nasty individuals who preyed upon the travelers along the Butterfield Stage route. Many saloons and hotels sprouted up around the stage stop downtown and commerce was brisk if a bit risky.


title: Visalia, California

text: The next memorable event was the arrival of the telegraph in 1860. Visalians then could get timely information of the events taking place on the East Coast that would ultimately develop into the Civil War. During the war, many citizens of Visalia could not decide whether Visalia should stand on the side of the North or the South, so they simply had a mini Civil War of their own on Main Street. No one really knows the outcome of the war, but apparently it was concluded to the satisfaction of the participants and life returned to normal. The federal government, however, was not so easily convinced, and reacting to concern about sedition, banned Visalia's pro-South "Equal Rights Expositor" newspaper and established a military garrison. Camp Babbitt was built in 1862 to stop overt Southern support and maintain law and order in the community. During these Civil War years, Visalia was incorporated, which gave the town new rights.


title: Visalia, California

text: The second incorporation in 1874 moved Visalia into city status with a common council and an ex-officio mayor and president. In 1893, the train bandits and murderers John Sontag and Chris Evans were apprehended, badly wounded, outside Visalia in what is called the Battle of Stone Corral. Sontag died three weeks later in police custody in Fresno; Evans was sent to Folsom State Prison. In 1904, the Visalia Electric Railroad was incorporated.


title: Visalia, California

text: In October 1933, Visalia was the site of a fact-finding committee appointed by Governor James Rolph and charged with investigating labor violence in the San Joaquin cotton strike. Labor activist Caroline Decker led hundreds of strikers in a march on the courthouse, and led the questioning of strikers during the investigation. In the mid-1970s, the area was known for the serial burglaries of the then unidentified Visalia Ransacker. More recently, Visalia served as a host city for the Amgen Tour of California in 2009 and 2010.


title: Visalia, California

text: The city is divided into neighborhoods, some of which were incorporated places or communities. Also, several independent cities around Visalia are popularly grouped with the city of Visalia, due to its immediate vicinity. Generally, the city is divided into these areas: Downtown Visalia, North Visalia, the Eastside, Southwest Visalia, the Industrial Area, Mooney, and the Westside.


title: Visalia, California

text: Visalia has a rich architectural history, including many extant buildings dating to the mid- to late 1800s. Throughout the town center are many historic brick structures, including the Bank of Italy (currently Bank of the Sierra) and the Art Deco/Beaux-Arts Visalia Town Center Post Office, both of which are registered with the National Register of Historic Places. In addition to many other historic buildings and Victorian houses, Visalia is also home to a distinctive Fox Theatre, which was restored by a community group known as "Friends of the Fox" and currently serves as a live venue for music and stage performances.


title: Visalia, California

text: Visalia is irregularly shaped and covers a total area of , of which are land and 0.05% is covered by water. Visalia is located at 36°19'27" North, 119°18'26" West (36.324100, −119.307347).


title: Visalia, California

text: The highest point in the Visalia–Porterville area is Mount Whitney. Located at the far reaches of the Sierra Nevada roughly east of the city, it reaches a height of . The hilliest parts of the Visalia area are the Venice Hills and the entire Sierra Nevada foothills east of the city. Four main streams run through the city. The major stream is the St. John's River, which begins at the diversion dam in the Kaweah River and is largely seasonal. The others are Mill Creek, Cameron Creek, and Packwood Creek. Many smaller creeks also flow through the city. The Friant-Kern Canal runs just east of the city along the western edge of the Sierra Nevada foothills.


title: Visalia, California

text: Visalia is subject to earthquakes due to its proximity to the Pacific Ring of Fire. The geologic instability produces numerous fault lines both above and below ground, which altogether cause around 10,000 earthquakes every year. One of the major fault lines is the San Andreas Fault. No major earthquakes have hit the Visalia area. Most quakes are of low intensity and are not felt. The San Joaquin Valley and metropolitan areas are also at risk from blind thrust earthquakes. Parts of the city are also vulnerable to floods.


title: Visalia, California

text: Visalia has a semi-arid climate ("BSk", under the Köppen climate classification), and receives just enough annual precipitation to stay out of Köppen's "BWk" (desert climate) classification. Visalia enjoys plenty of sunshine throughout the year, with an average of only 26 days with measurable precipitation annually.


title: Visalia, California

text: The period of April through October is warm to hot and dry, with typical high temperatures of and lows of . However, temperatures frequently exceed and occasionally reach . The period of November through March is mild and somewhat rainy, with high temperatures of and lows of , but temperatures could occasionally drop to high 20s (−3 °C) or be as high as for a few days during winter.


title: Visalia, California

text: Visalia averages of precipitation annually, which mainly occurs during the winter and spring (November through April) with generally light rain showers, but sometimes as heavy rainfall and thunderstorms. Years of average rainfall are rare; the usual pattern is bimodal, with a short string of dry years (perhaps ) followed by one or two wet years that make up the average. While the Sierra Nevada mountains farther east in Tulare County tend to receive snow every winter, snowfall is extremely rare in Visalia. The greatest snowfall recorded in the city was just below on January 25, 1999.


title: Visalia, California

text: Visalia's Valley Oak Ordinance, adopted in 1971, regulates pruning and removing valley oak ("Quercus lobata") trees. The area was once a dense oak woodland and the city is trying to maintain a healthy urban forest partly through preserving Mooney Grove Park, one of the largest valley oak groves in California. Also, just outside the city limits is the Kaweah Oaks Preserve, which is a nature preserve. It protects one of the last remaining valley oak riparian forests in the San Joaquin Valley.


title: Visalia, California

text: Visalia was the home of the minor league baseball team the Visalia Oaks for almost 30 years. The team's namesake was in recognition of the city's arboreal identity and had the mascot of Oakie, and later Chatter, both gray squirrels.


title: Visalia, California

text: Owing to geography Visalia suffers from air pollution in the form of smog, agricultural and other particulates. The Visalia area and the rest of the San Joaquin Valley are susceptible to atmospheric inversion, which holds in the exhausts from road vehicles, airplanes, locomotives, manufacturing, and other sources. Unlike other cities that rely on rain to clear smog, Visalia gets only of rain each year; pollution accumulates over many consecutive days. Issues of air quality in Visalia and other major cities led to the passage of early national environmental legislation, including the Clean Air Act. More recently, the state of California has led the nation in working to limit pollution by mandating low emission vehicles. Particulate pollution can also be high during the winter due to frequent low-level inversions and during longer periods of dry weather. The same low-level inversions that cause high pollution levels in the winter also cause the frequent dense fog, locally known as Tule fog.


title: Visalia, California

text: As a result, pollution levels have dropped in recent decades. The number of stage 1 smog alerts has declined from over 100 per year in the 1970s to almost zero in the new millennium. Despite improvement, the 2006 annual report of the American Lung Association ranked the city as the 11th-most polluted in the country with short-term particle pollution and year-round particle pollution. In 2007, the annual report of the American Lung Association ranked the city as the fourth-most polluted in the country with short-term particle pollution and year-round particle pollution. In 2008, the city was ranked the third-most polluted and again fourth for highest year-round particulate pollution.


title: Visalia, California

text: The economy of Visalia is driven by agriculture (especially grapes, olives, cotton, citrus, and nursery products), livestock, and distribution and manufacturing facilities (electronics and paper products are significant manufacturing sectors). Light manufacturing and industrial/commercial distribution represent the fastest growing portion of Visalia's employer base.


title: Visalia, California

text: According to the city's June 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:


title: Visalia, California

text: The major daily newspaper in the area is the "Visalia Times-Delta/Tulare Advance-Register "owned by Gannett. A number of smaller regional newspapers, alternative weeklies, and magazines are published, including the "Valley Voice". Many cities adjacent to Visalia also have their own daily newspapers whose coverage and availability overlaps into certain Visalia neighborhoods.


title: Visalia, California

text: Visalia is home to the Visalia Rawhide (a "single-A" class team of the Arizona Diamondbacks) of Minor League Baseball. The Rawhide compete in the California League at Recreation Park.


title: Visalia, California

text: It is also home to the Visalia Vapor Trailers, the longest-active official National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) car club.


title: Visalia, California

text: About 233,293 Christians are in the metropolitan area (85,000 in the city proper). Churches of the Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian. Lutheran, Baptist, Church of Christ, Assemblies of God, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Pentecostal, Seventh-day Adventist Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox Church, Mennonite, and other denominations can be found throughout the city. Some of the larger Protestant Christian congregations include Radiant Church, Visalia First Assembly, Neighborhood Church, Gateway Church, Grace Community Church, Christ Lutheran Church, Visalia Nazarene Church, and Visalia Community Covenant Church.


title: Visalia, California

text: Visalia has a multiethnic population practicing a variety of faiths, including Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Sikhism, Baháʼí, Sufism. Immigrants from Southeast Asia have formed the Lao Buddhist Temple of Visalia, one of two Buddhist temples in the Visalia Area.


title: Visalia, California

text: Visalia is the only major city in the Central Valley with a population over 100,000 that does not have a local four-year university.


title: Visalia, California

text: Visalia is also the largest primary statistical area in the United States without an NCAA member school.


title: Visalia, California

text: Visalia Unified School District serves the entire city of Visalia, as well as several surrounding communities, with a student population of about 30,000. The Tulare County Public Library operates its largest branch, the Visalia Branch, in Downtown Visalia. There are other smaller libraries in Visalia, such as the Visalia Learning Center.


title: Visalia, California

text: California State Route 99, known as the Pearl Harbor Survivors Memorial Freeway, is the major north–south highway that heads north to Fresno and south to Bakersfield. California State Route 198 runs east to Sequoia National Park and west to San Lucas. California State Route 63, Mooney Boulevard, heads north towards Orosi and Kings Canyon National Park, and south to Tulare. California State Route 216, Lovers Lane, heads east to Woodlake.


title: Visalia, California

text: Visalia Transit (formerly Visalia City Coach) operates public transportation to, from and within the communities of Visalia, Goshen, Farmersville and Exeter. The Visalia Transit also provides Dial-A-Ride curb-to-curb para-transit service on a shared-ride, demand-response basis to locations within the city limits of Visalia, Goshen and Farmersville.


title: Visalia, California

text: Tulare County Area Transit (TCaT) provides the public transit services between Visalia and smaller communities throughout the greater Visalia area. Service includes Fixed Route and Demand Responsive services that are offered Monday through Saturday.


title: Visalia, California

text: Orange Belt Stages has a bus stop in Visalia for commuting Amtrak rail passengers with Visalia as their final destination. The nearest Amtrak stations that offer commercial rail transportation services are located in Hanford and Fresno.


title: Visalia, California

text: The Sequoia Shuttle provides an alternative form of transportation from Visalia and Three Rivers to Sequoia National Park.


title: Visalia, California

text: The Loop is an easy, safe and free way for all school-aged kids to get to community centers and recreation centers throughout Visalia where activities for youth are happening.


title: Visalia, California

text: In late 2015, city officials unveiled the V-Line, a bus line that connects Visalia and Fresno. Its stops, in order, are the Visalia Transit Center, Visalia Municipal Airport, Yosemite International Airport, Fresno State University, and Fresno Courthouse. The bus fare is $10 each way. There are offers ranging from discounted to free for students, seniors, and disabled riders. This bus line has several amenities such as free WiFi and charging ports.


title: Visalia, California

text: The 2010 United States Census reported that Visalia had a population of 124,442. The population density was . The racial makeup of Visalia was 80,203 (64.5%) White, 2,627 (2.1%) African American, 1,730 (1.4%) Native American, 6,768 (5.4%) Asian, 164 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 27,249 (21.9%) from other races, and 5,701 (4.6%) from two or more races. There were 57,262 people (46.0%) people of Hispanic or Latino origin, of any race.


title: Visalia, California

text: The Census reported that 123,116 people (98.9% of the population) lived in households, 606 (0.5%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 720 (0.6%) were institutionalized.


title: Visalia, California

text: There were 41,349 households, out of which 18,102 (43.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 21,219 (51.3%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 6,508 (15.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 2,909 (7.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 3,282 (7.9%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships. 8,383 households (20.3%) were made up of individuals, and 3,330 (8.1%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.98. There were 30,636 families (74.1% of all households); the average family size was 3.42.


title: Visalia, California

text: The population was spread out, with 37,406 people (30.1%) under the age of 18, 12,461 people (10.0%) aged 18 to 24, 33,922 people (27.3%) aged 25 to 44, 27,779 people (22.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 12,874 people (10.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.


title: Visalia, California

text: There were 44,205 housing units at an average density of , of which 25,380 (61.4%) were owner-occupied, and 15,969 (38.6%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.7%. 73,980 people (59.4% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 49,136 people (39.5%) lived in rental housing units.


title: Visalia, California

text: According to the 2006–2008 American Community Survey, the racial composition of Visalia was as follows:


title: Visalia, California

text: African Americans make up 2.2% of Visalia's population. According to the survey, there were 2,574 African Americans residing in Visalia.


title: Visalia, California

text: Native Americans make up 0.7% of Visalia's population. According to the survey, there were 827 Native Americans residing in Visalia.


title: Visalia, California

text: Asian Americans make up 5.0% of Visalia's population. According to the survey, there were 5,762 Asian Americans residing in Visalia. The seven largest Asian American groups were the following:


title: Visalia, California

text: Pacific Islander Americans make up 0.1% of Visalia's population. According to the survey, there were 138 Pacific Islander Americans residing in Visalia.


title: Visalia, California

text: Multiracial Americans make up 2.9% of Visalia's population. According to the survey, there were 3,350 multiracial Americans residing in Visalia. The four main multiracial groups were the following:


title: Visalia, California

text: Hispanics and Latinos make up 40.6% of Visalia's population. According to the survey, there were 47,251 Hispanics and Latinos residing in Visalia. The four main Hispanic/Latino groups were the following:


title: Visalia, California

text: White Americans make up 84.0% of Visalia's population. According to the survey, there were 97,735 White Americans residing in Visalia. Much of the European American population is of German, Irish, English, Italian, Russian, Polish, and French descent.


title: Visalia, California

text: According to the 2006–2008 American Community Survey, the top ten European ancestries were the following:


title: Visalia, California

text: The 2000 census recorded 91,565 people, 30,883 households, and 22,901 families residing in the city, with a population density of 3,203.8 people per square mile. There were 32,658 housing units. As of the 2000 US Census, the racial distribution in Visalia was 54.9% White American, 2.3% African American, 6.0% Asian American, 2.4% Native American, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 20.3% from other races, and 4.2% from two or more races. 35.6% of the population was Hispanic or Latino (of any race).


title: Visalia, California

text: The census indicated that 70.9% spoke English, 12.1% Spanish, 1.0% Lahu, 0.8% Mien, 0.7% Hmong, 0.6% Laotian and 0.5% Tagalog as their first language.


title: Visalia, California

text: According to the census, 41.1% of households had children under 18, 54.9% were married couples, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.8% were non-families. 20.7% of households were made up of individuals, and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size 3.37.


title: Visalia, California

text: The age distribution was: 31.3% under 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 or older. The median age was 32. For every 100 females, there were 99.4 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.


title: Visalia, California

text: The median income for a household was $53,975, and for a family was $61,823. Males had a median income of $46,423, females $34,265. The per capita income was $23,751. 14.8% of the population and 13.2% of families were below the poverty line. 21.4% of those under the age of 18 and 9.4% of those aged 65 or older were below the poverty line.


title: Visalia, California

text: Like much of the San Joaquin Valley, more resident voters are registered in the Republican Party than the Democratic Party.


title: Visalia, California

text: Of the 51,718 registered voters in Visalia; approximately 31.9% are Democrats and 49.1% are Republicans. The remaining 19.0% are Independents or are registered with one of the many smaller political parties, like the Green Party or the Libertarian Party.


title: Visalia, California

text: Visalia is a charter city with a city charter approved by the electorate that acts as a "constitution" for the city. Until the November 2012 elections, Visalia voters at large, elected the five-member City Council that serves as the city's legislative and governing body. The city council members serve four-year terms, and they select one member to serve as mayor and one to serve as vice mayor. The City Council hires a powerful city manager that serves as executive officer, administers city operations, and carries out city policies. Every odd-numbered year either two or three members are elected by the people to serve a four-year term. Each March, the City Council meets and chooses one of its members as mayor and one as vice-mayor. The current mayor of Visalia is Bob Link and vice mayor is Steve Nelsen.


title: Visalia, California

text: The City of Visalia had been threatened with a lawsuit from a network of civil-rights attorneys claiming the city violated the California Voting Rights Act, passed into law in 2002. On March 5, 2012, the Visalia City Council voted to put on the November 2012 ballot an initiative that changed the way that Visalia voters get to elect their city council. The measure passed and since the November 2016 elections, Visalia holds district elections in which the candidates must live in one of the five areas (or "districts") forming the city, and only residents of that area cast their votes.