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If there is one thing that 2009 will go down in the history books for it will be regarding two things. The first is the all out assault against piracy around the world by the movie industry and their trade groups.

The second is that 2009 is going to be the year that the movie industry has made record profits at the box office.

So on one hand they are saying that piracy is killing their business which means we have to gut our existing copyright laws and other intellectual property laws so that the movie industry can take over lock stock and barrel.

Then on the other hand they stand to make $10.6 billion before the end of the year, and the numbers are still climbing.

The year’s runaway overall box-office tally keeps getting adjusted upward.

A week after announcing that the domestic theatrical market would push past $10 billion for the first time in 2009, and end the year at around $10.4 billion, industry tracker Hollywood.com Thursday revised its count to an astounding $10.6 billion.

And that’s a calendar-year figure, meaning the counting stops today. Adhering to a different 52 week calendar, studio distributors are actually counting this weekend (Jan. 1-3) on the 2009 books, at least domestically, so who knows how high the ultimate 2009 will end up, given the heat of “Avatar,” “Sherlock Holmes” and “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.”

According to Hollywood.com, the last week of the calendar year will conclude with nearly $500 million in domestic revenue, by far the biggest week ever at the North American box office.

Meanwhile, the Hollywood Reporter Thursday released data showing that foreign theatrical distribution also reached a new record in 2009, hitting $10.7 billion — an uptick of 8 percent over 2008.

Source: The Wrap

So let me get this straight. Piracy is a rampant beast that is killing the movie business and yet these self-same movie companies are setting record profits.

Can some-one please explain to me how it is that piracy is the great big monster it is being made out to be then?

Anyone?

Thought not and yet the road to ACTA continues unabated using this piracy argument as one of its driving forces. Talk about having your cake and eating it too.

Ellen DeGeneres has been named Woman Of The Year by charity PETA.

The US TV host was awarded the title by People For The Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) for her work in raising awareness of their campaigns promoting a lifestyle which is friendly to nature.

Tim Gunn, who appears on fashion programme ‘Project Runway’ in the US, was named Man Of The Year.

PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk said, “Tim Gunn and Ellen DeGeneres show us that one person really can make a difference in the world by rejecting cruel deeds in favour of compassionate acts.

“Their message that animals must be treated kindly and respectfully has reached scores of people, and many of them have changed their buying habits, all because Gunn and DeGeneres spoke up for the voiceless.”

Ellen, who fronts a self titled show, said she was delighted by the honour.

She tweeted, “I’m honoured PETA named me ‘Person of The Year’. I thank them for protecting animals every single day. Amazing.”

PETA said it gave its accolade to Ellen for being vegan and championing the meat and dairy-free lifestyle by inviting experts like Jonathan Safran Foer and Dr. Neal Barnard on ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’.

Tim’s contributions include narrating the charity’s ‘Fashion Victims’ video, about extreme practices in the fur and reptile skin trade and for being creative director at fur-free fashion chain Liz Claiborne.

Both stars will be awarded plaques and a letter of appreciation.

Robert Pattinson auditioned for ‘Twilight’ because he had a crush on Kristen Stewart.

The heartthrob actor, who played vampire Edward Cullen in the hit movie franchise based on the best-selling book by Stephenie Meyer, admits his main motivation to win the role was getting to know the actress, who had already been cast as love interest Bella Swann.

He said, “I read the script and I barely knew that they were books too. The only reason I went to the audition was to see Kristen, because I’d just seen ‘Into The Wild’.

“Of course I had a crush on her but we are just very good friends.”

Robert, who has denied claims he and Kristen are enjoying a secret romance, insists he is single and on the lookout for a new girlfriend but doesn’t have a type.

He said, “I am young, free and single. I like people being forward. Gosh, I don’t know. I like strong people, chiselled abs… I take what I can get.”

Kevin Jonas bought his new wife glass slippers to wear at their wedding so she could feel like Cinderella.

The Jonas Brothers singer wed Danielle Deleasa in a romantic ceremony on December 19 and he was determined to give the nuptials a fairytale feel.

He told People magazine, “I knew that my princess needed her glass slippers and her castle. I’ve never seen a more beautiful bride.”

The couple, who had been dating for two years, held their wedding breakfast in a heated marquee decorated with an enchanted forest and icicle-shaped crystal decorations.

Danielle added, “I always wanted my wedding to have that princess feel. I couldn’t have imagined this.”

The wedding went ahead despite a blizzard threatening to ruin the nuptials, and was attended by 400 family members and friends, including Demi Lovato, who starred with The Jonas Brothers in ‘Camp Rock’.

Danielle,who was led down the aisle by her father, Thomas Deleasa, also wore a silk-and-crystal flower in her hair because she was wearing one when she met Kevin in the Bahamas in 2007.

Kevin’s brothers, Joe, 20, and Nick, 17, served as his best men, while the bride and groom recited traditional vows and exchanged Jacob and Co. wedding rings they’d designed for one another.

Orlando Bloom shocked diners by stripping off in a Las Vegas restaurant.

The ‘Pirates Of The Caribbean’ actor was dining at upmarket Italian eatery Lavo with his model girlfriend Miranda Kerr, actress Rosario Dawson and other friends when a fellow diner accidentally spilled a drink all over his expensive shirt.

An onlooker said, “Everybody on the table let out a gasp when the guy spilled his drink on Orlando. He was perfectly cool about it though – rather than flying into a rage he laughed it off.”

British hunk Orlando and his party then devised a plan so he could continue partying, and after making a phone call, within half an hour an employee appeared with three crisp new shirts for the actor to try on.

Rather than retiring to the restrooms to change however, he simply took his shirt off in front of the restaurant, bearing his famously rippled torso.

The source added, “Orlando pulled the wet shirt off, and was sitting there at his table half naked while his friend helped him into the new shirt. Mind you with his muscles, he could get away with it.”

Simon Cowell wants to create a cartoon series.

The music mogul, who earned an estimated $75 million last year, is a big fan of animated show ‘The Simpsons’ but admits he is jealous of its worldwide success.

He said, “Their appeal is broad and it makes a lot of money. You kind of hate them for making so much money. It makes me physically sick knowing how much money they have made over the years.

“Maybe I should start a cartoon one day.”

Simon, 50, has previously made cameo appearances on the show – but admits he only took part to preserve his youth.

He explained on TV show ‘The Simpsons: Celebrity Friends’: “It’s the best thing to get the call. You last forever and are young forever on that show, so I love it.

“The only reason for doing it is to look good and stay young forever.”

The ‘American Idol’ and ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ star recently signed up to make another appearance on the cartoon, despite admitting his last appearance didn’t go well.

He said, “They obviously hated me as I had to do it over and over again.

“I could actually feel the rolling of eyeballs. It was like, ‘After take 57 Simon could we have a little bit more reality?’ It was painful.”

Charlie Sheen has blamed his drinking for his alleged attack on wife Brooke Mueller.

The ‘Two and a Half Men’ actor, who was arrested on Christmas Day, December 25, after reportedly assaulting his spouse with a knife, has told friends he feels “awful” about his actions but knows it wouldn’t have happened if he had stayed away from alcohol.

One revealed, “Charlie feels awful. He let himself down by drinking … And he wants to be with his kids.”

Despite the alleged attack, Charlie is determined to make his third marriage last for the sake of the couple’s nine-month-old twin sons Bob and Max.

The friend added, “Charlie has two little boys and he does not want to get divorced again.”

Charlie, 44, and 32-year-old Brooke are said to be having marriage counselling in bid to save their 19-month union.

A source said, “Brooke and Charlie still love each other, but they are very different.

“For the good of the children they definitely want to see if counseling will help before anything further is decided.”

Charlie was arrested for second-degree assault, menacing and criminal mischief while the pair were holidaying with family in Aspen for Christmas.

Details of the telephone call made by Brooke to the police were revealed on Tuesday, December 29.

She said, “My husband had me with a knife and I’m scared for my life, and he threatened me. I thought I was going to die.”

She paused when asked his name, before confirming: “It’s Charlie Sheen.”

Sarah Jessica Parker will have a quiet New Year’s Eve, December 12, with her family.

The ‘Sex and the City’ actress, who plays glamorous newspaper columnist Carrie Bradshaw in the hit US TV show and movie, plans to shun her Hollywood lifestyle and will spend the night indoors with her husband Matthew Broderick and their three children.

She told BANG Showbiz, “What am I doing for New Year’s Eve? I’ll be spending it with my husband and my family.”

The 44-year-old actress, who has son James Wilkie, seven, and six-month-old twin daughters Marion Loretta and Tabitha Hodge with Matthew, has had an eventful year.

As well as filming the second ‘Sex and the City’ movie, she and Matthew welcomed their new twin daughters through a surrogate mother into the world on June 22.

Sarah loves all aspects of being a mother, especially the less glamorous jobs.

She said recently, “I love the smell of diapers – I even like when they’re wet and you smell them all warm liked a baked good. I love the smell of Balmex. Love it.”

Alexandra Burke is looking forward to touring the world in 2010.

The ‘Bad Boys’ singer says the only New Year’s resolution she will be making is to build on her successes of the past 12 months.

She said, “I’m looking forward to another unbelievable year I hope. Releasing in other countries, maybe a tour sometime. Just getting out more and performing.

“No day is ever the same. You never know what is going to happen next.”

Unlike many people, Alexandra doesn’t feel the need to get fit in the New Year because she already takes good care of her sexy body.

She added, “It’s about eating healthily, especially before a shoot. I do work out a bit, but being busy keeps me running around anyway.”

Conservative U.S. radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh has been rushed to a hospital in Hawaii following a suspected heart attack.

Paramedics responded to a call at 2:41 p.m. local time from the Kahala Hotel and Resort, where it was said that Limbaugh was suffering from “chest pains.”

Local reports claim that Limbaugh was in serious condition at Honolulu’s Queen’s Medical Center after being treated at a hotel by paramedics.

Limbaugh has suffered from various health issues previously, including excessive weight and addition to pain killers.