Ginger anodyne clears the palate

Ginger anodyne clears the palate

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Top 10 Box Office Movies of 2009

Top 10 Box Office Movies of 2009:




In 2009, giant robots, teen wizards and high-flying houses dominated the box office, with moviegoers flocking to theaters to the tune of over $10 billion in ticket sales. Here are the top ten highest grossing films at the domestic box office this year.


THE BLIND SIDE

10. THE BLIND SIDE
Total Gross: $184,387,000

Boasting no explosions, CGI robots or vampires, but propelled by good word-of-mouth, this inspirational drama climbed its way into the number ten spot over the Christmas holiday weekend.

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

9. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
Total Gross: $196,573,705

Not only did the prehistoric critter crew return for their biggest box office outing yet, the third 'Ice Age' adventure conquered the number 2 spot at the worldwide box office with a massive $883.7 million.


Monsters Vs. Aliens

8. Monsters Vs. Aliens
Total Gross: $198,351,526

In a crowded field of animated titles this year, this monstrous adventure towered over the pack, stepping into the top ten with one of the biggest spring opening weekends ever.


AVATAR

7. AVATAR
Total Gross: $212,268,000

Arguably one of the most anticipated movies of the decade, director James Cameron's visionary sci-fi epic leaped into the top ten during the final weeks of the year.


Star Trek

6. Star Trek
Total Gross: $257,730,019

Live long and propser! Director J.J. Abrams' bold re-imagining of the classic sci-fi franchise proved popular with both old and new fans alike, easily grossing more than any previous Star Trek movie.


The Hangover

5. The Hangover
Total Gross: $277,322,503

Easily the surprise breakout hit of the summer, this tawdry tale of the ultimate Vegas bachelor party gone wrong defied all expectations to become the number one R-rated comedy of all time.


Twilight Saga: New Moon

4. The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Total Gross: $280,924,000

Hot off the success of 2008's 'Twilight,' the second installment of Stephanie Meyers' supernatural romance saga wolfed down a record-breaking $72,703,754 for the highest opening day earnings of all time.



UP
3. UP
Total Gross: $293,004,164

The animation wizards at Pixar did it again, soaring to number three, nabbing the studio its second highest grossing movie ever (behind Finding Nemo), and becoming the highest grossing 3D movie of all time.


HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE



2. HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE
Total Gross: $301,959,197

The popular teen wizard returned for his sixth year at Hogwarts to grab second place, but cast a powerful spell on the worldwide box office, taking the top spot with a magical $929.4 million.


TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN

1. TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN
Total Gross: $402,111,870

Autobots battled Decepticons to the top of the box office, not only becoming the top earning movie of the year, but also firmly planting itself at number 9 among the top ten highest domestic grossing films of all time.

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Voters elect Annise Parker as Houston's first openly gay mayor

Voters elect Annise Parker as Houston's first openly gay mayor:
Annise Parker made history Saturday by becoming Houston's first openly gay mayor, seizing 53.6 per cent of the vote in the city's hotly contested election.

"This election has changed the world for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community. Just as it is about transforming the lives of all Houstonians for the better, and that's what my administration will be about," Parker told supporters after former city attorney Gene Locke conceded defeat.

Of the more than 152,000 residents who turned out to cast ballots in the fourth largest U.S. city Saturday, 81,652 chose Parker - some 11,000 votes more than were placed for Locke.

The election battle leading up to Saturday's balloting was marked by fierce campaigning and anti-gay rhetoric.

Parker is a lesbian who has never made a secret or an issue of her sexual orientation. But that orientation became focus of the race after anti-gay activists and conservative religious groups endorsed the 61-year-old Locke and sent out mailers condemning Parker's "homosexual behaviour."

Meanwhile, gay and lesbian political organizations nationwide rallied to support the 53-year-old Parker by raising money for her campaign and making calls urging people to vote.

Locke tried to distance himself from the anti-gay attacks while courting conservative voters who could tip the race in his favour.

Although Locke condemned the divisive rhetoric, two of his key supporters contributed money to a conservative political action committee that sent out an anti-gay mailer earlier this month, urging voters not to pick Parker because she was endorsed by the "gay and lesbian political caucus."

Campaign finance reports show Ned Holmes, finance chairman of Locke's campaign, and James Dannenbaum, a member of the campaign's finance committee, each gave $20,000.

Late Saturday, Locke offered his congratulations to Parker and urged the city to move on from its most recent battle.

"Here's what our city needs now: It needs unity. It needs us to come together and heal like we've never healed before, and to move forward under a new administration," he said.

Parker will replace Bill White, who is term-limited after serving six years and is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor.

Several smaller U.S. cities have openly gay mayors, including Portland, Oregon, Providence, Rhode Island, and Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Houston, the country's fourth largest city, is predominantly Democratic and about 25 per cent black and one-third Hispanic. About 60,000 of its 2.2 million residents identify as gay or lesbian.

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On the Net:

Harris County elections: http://www.election.co.harris.tx.us/

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Annise Parker: Openly Gay Mayor Elected In Houston, Texas

Annise Parker has an unbeatable lead over Gene Locke in Houston's hotly contested mayoral election, meaning she will become the city's first openly gay mayor.

The Harris County elections Web site says 53.62 percent of voters who turned out Saturday chose Parker.

Her rival, former city attorney Gene Locke, was pitching to become the city's second black mayor.

The election battle leading up to Saturday's balloting was marked by fierce campaigning and anti-gay rhetoric. Parker is a lesbian who has never made a secret or issue of her sexual orientation. If she wins, Houston will become the largest U.S. city to ever have an openly gay mayor.

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund put out a press release calling this "a watershed moment in American politics." Full press release below:

Lesbian elected mayor of Houston, Texas

Washington, D.C.--Houston, Texas has become the largest city in the United States to elect an openly gay mayor after City Controller Annise Parker was declared the winner of a runoff election tonight. Social conservatives fought her election, funding a campaign aimed at turning out likeminded voters to support her opponent, former city attorney Gene Locke. But Parker's endorsements from labor, police, women's, gay rights and other groups were echoed by the Houston Chronicle, the area's major daily newspaper, and her campaign ran a superior get-out-the-vote effort.

Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, which endorsed Parker, said her victory holds tremendous significance for the gay community. "This is a watershed moment in American politics. Annise was elected by fair-minded people from across the city because of her experience and competence, and we're glad Houston soundly rejected the politics of division. This victory sends a clear signal that gays and lesbians are an integral part of American civic life, that we're willing to lead, and that voters will respond to candidates who are open and honest about their lives," Wolfe said.

Parker praised the support of the Victory Fund and its donors, who raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to help fund her campaign. "I am so grateful to the Victory Fund and its supporters for believing in this campaign from the beginning. This race was about the future of Houston, and whether we will face that future proud to be an open, welcoming, and fair-minded city. Tonight Houstonians said yes to a future like that, and I am glad the Victory Fund helped make that happen," Parker said.

Parker's election was the Victory Fund's top political priority in 2009, a year that saw 54 of its 79 endorsed openly gay, lesbian bisexual and transgender (LGBT) candidates elected to public office.

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Annise Parker :elected Houston's first openly gay mayor

Annise Parker :elected Houston's first openly gay
mayor:

Annise Parker made history with her election as the first openly gay mayor of a big American city, but she insisted she'll concentrate on the brick-and-mortar duties of running the country's fourth-largest city.

"I realize that I'm a role model, but I've been a role model for my community for 30 years," said Parker, 53.

Garnering 53% of the vote in Saturday's election, Parker defeated former city attorney Gene Locke, 61, who had hoped to become Houston's second black mayor.

"[Houston is] a diverse, international city that welcomes everyone," Parker said.

Parker ran on a platform of firm fiscal conservatism.

Smaller U.S. cities, such as Portland, Ore., and Providence, R.I., have elected openly gay mayors, but it's the first time a major city has followed suit.



Parker's victory comes after several setbacks for gay rights, including the repeal by voters in Maine and California of same-sex marriage laws and the rejection of gay marriage legislation in New York.

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Newly-elected Annise Parker hailed for being first openly gay mayor of Houston

Newly-elected Annise Parker hailed for being first openly gay mayor of Houston:
The day after Houston voters chose Annise Parker to become the city's first openly gay mayor, she did as she had throughout a contentious, hard-fought campaign: She focused on the brick-and-mortar realities of running the country's fourth-largest city.

Parker told a Sunday press conference about her transition team, her plans to change the running of the Houston Police Department and the financial constraints the city faces.

Then she paused to reflect on the significance of the election, which made Houston the largest U.S. city to elect an openly gay mayor.

"It's a historic election for my community, and I believe an election that will change some people's minds about the City of Houston," said Parker, 53. "It's a diverse, international city that welcomes everyone."

Parker, who began her political career as a gay activist, rose through the ranks of local politics to serve first on the city council, then as city controller.

"I realize that I'm a role model, but I've been a role model for my community for 30 years," she said. "It's part of who I am, and I believe it makes me a better representative for the City of Houston."

Parker defeated former city attorney Gene Locke, 61, with 53.6% of the vote Saturday in a race that had a turnout of only 16.5%. Locke had hoped to become the city's second black mayor.

A little more than 152,000 residents turned out to cast ballots in the city, which has a population of 2.2 million. Of those voters, 81,743 chose Parker — some 11,000 more than voted for Locke. About 60,000 residents identify themselves as gay or lesbian.

A call to Locke's campaign was not immediately returned.

Parker's victory comes after several setbacks for gay rights activists. New York lawmakers earlier in December rejected a bill that would have made their state the sixth to allow marriage between same-sex couples. In November, Maine voters repealed the Legislature's passage of a state law allowing same-sex marriage there.

Several smaller U.S. cities, including Portland, Ore.; Providence, R.I., and Cambridge, Mass., have openly gay mayors.

Parker had not made a secret or an issue of her sexual orientation during the campaign or any of her previous runs for city office. Nevertheless, it became the focus of the election race after anti-gay activists and conservative religious groups endorsed Locke and sent out mailers condemning Parker's "homosexual behavior."

The race was also closely watched by gay and lesbian rights organizations around the country who endorsed Parker, contributed money to her campaign and staged get-out-the-vote phone banks.

"We think Annise Parker will be a fantastic mayor for Houston, and the increased visibility that comes with that would help our community," said Jenna Lowenstein, communications director for the Stonewall Democrats, a national gay and lesbian political organization.

On Sunday, a glowing Parker dismissed the attacks by the anti-gay activists, saying they have been waging "the same ugly, divisive campaigns attacking my community for a long time.

"I'm proud that the city of Houston has grown and matured, even though they have not," said Parker, who said she celebrated her victory with a bubble bath.

Parker's term will start Jan. 1.

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Pitt, Jolie celebrate fifth anniversary in Los Angeles

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