Sandra Bullock Top Money-Making Star of 2009
Sandra Bullock has been voted the Top Money-Making Star of 2009 in Quigley Publishing Company’s 78th Annual Poll of Exhibitors and is the first female to win since Julia Roberts in 1999. Bullock is the eighth woman chosen #1 in the Poll’s 78 year history. She appeared in three films in 2009, “The Blind Side,” “The Proposal” and “All About Steve.”
The Quigley Poll, conducted each year since 1932, is an annual survey of motion picture theatre owners and film buyers, which asks them to vote for the ten stars that they believe generated the most box-office revenue for their theatres during the year. It has been long regarded as one of the most reliable indicators of a Star’s real box-office draw because the selections are done by people whose livelihood depends on choosing the films that will bring audiences to their theatres. The Quigley Poll appears annually in Quigley Publishing Company’s International Motion Picture Almanac and at www.quigleypublishing.com .
Johnny Depp placed second this year based on “Public Enemies” and a small role in “The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus.” He was #1 in 2006 and 2007. Matt Damon made his second appearance in the survey, placing #3 with 2009 roles in “Invictus” and “The Informant!” Although George Clooney, placing #4, has never won in his seven mentions in the Poll, he had an extremely productive year with “Up in the Air,” “The Men Who Stare at Goats” and “Fantastic Mr. Fox”(voice). Robert Downey Jr.’s performances in “Sherlock Holmes” and “The Soloist” helped him place #5. He was #2 in 2008.
Tom Hanks is #6, which marks the fifteenth time in the Poll since he first appeared in 1988, including five times as #1. Meryl Streep was in “Julie and Julia,” “It’s Complicated” and a voice in “Fantastic Mr. Fox” and placed #7, her third mention in the Poll. Brad Pitt made his fifth appearance coming in at #8, due to “Inglourious Basterds.” 2007’s “Star of Tomorrow,” Shia LaBeouf scored #9 with “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” and Denzel Washington rounded out the Top Ten with “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3.”
With Bullock’s win, eight women have been voted the Top Money-Makers sixteen times as follows: Marie Dressler (1932, 1933), Shirley Temple (1935, 1936, 1937, 1938), Betty Grable (1943), Elizabeth Taylor (1961), Doris Day (1960, 1962, 1963, 1964), Julie Andrews (1966, 1967) and Julia Roberts. (1999)
Tom Cruise has not placed in the Poll in the last two years but he has been in the Top Ten 20 times since 1983, and been voted number one seven times. Tom Hanks, Clint Eastwood, Burt Reynolds and Bing Crosby have all won five times. John Wayne, Doris Day and Shirley Temple each finished first four times, but John Wayne was voted one of the Top Ten Money-Making Stars an astounding 25 times from 1949 to 1974.
Exhibitors were also asked to name the Stars of Tomorrow for 2009: one actor and one actress who they feel will be Top Money-Makers in the years to come. The 2009 winners are Carey Mulligan who had a breakthrough performance in “An Education” and was also in “Brothers” and “Public Enemies” and Taylor Lautner who scored as Jacob Black in “New Moon.”
Top Ten Money-Making Stars of 2009
1. Sandra Bullock
2. Johnny Depp
3. Matt Damon
4. George Clooney
5. Robert Downey Jr.
6. Tom Hanks
7. Meryl Streep
8. Brad Pitt
9. Shia LaBeouf
10. Denzel Washington
Stars of Tomorrow:
Carey Mulligan
Taylor Lautner
Source: Quigley Publishing Company
Americans online shopping decisions affected by security concerns, poll finds
National Cyber Security Alliance Finds that Security Questions Cause Online Retailers to Lose Sales
As Americans gear up for the holiday shopping season and Cyber Monday, the unofficial start of the online holiday shopping season on November 23, it is clear that Web site security plays a major part in consumers’ purchasing decisions, according to a new poll by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) and Symantec. The poll, conducted by Zogby International, of more than 3,500 Americans found that online retailers will lose sales if consumers have concerns about a site’s security.
According to the poll, more than 63 percent of respondents reported that they did not complete a Web site purchase because of security concerns. Of those that did not make a purchase due to security concerns, several reason reasons were given (note: respondents were able to select more than one reason) including:
– 41 percent said the site requested more information than necessary for the transaction
– 46 percent were worried about providing the information requested
– 32 percent said it wasn’t clear about how the site would use personal information
– 62 percent simply were not sure the site was secure
In the online world where speed and convenience are measured in milliseconds, some online retailers have voiced concerns that adding layers of security on their sites would repel purchasers. Yet, the NCSA poll found that Americans are willing to endure additional safeguards in order to protect their personal information. Just over 75 percent of those polled said their likeliness to use a service or make a purchase would NOT be affected if a Web site required an additional process to verify identity above and beyond the basic username and password.
“Americans are extremely focused on protecting their personal information and their identities,” said Michael Kaiser, executive director of the NCSA. “Skepticism is a front-line defense and it is heartening to see that Americans are actively engaged in making critical decisions when shopping online. This poll should alert online retailers that there is direct relationship between security and revenue.”
The NCSA recommends that Americans employ a small handful of simple behaviors to ensure the online holiday shopping season is safe and successful:
Update Core Protections: Take a few minutes to update your core protections — anti-virus, anti-spyware, and firewall — before you get on the information superhighway. Also make certain they are set to automatically update against new threats.
Shop Secure Sites: Is there a closed padlock on the browser’s status bar? Does the Web site’s address (URL) change to shttp or https when you are asked to provide payment information? If so, you know the vendor has secured their payment process.
Check Sellers Out: Conduct independent research on a seller’s reputation before you buy from a seller you have never done business with.
Passwords Are Key: Create long unique passwords incorporating symbols and numbers to increase your security against hackers and others trying to access online accounts.
Always Ask WWW: When providing personal information for any purchase, always ensure that you know who is asking for the information, what information they are asking for and why the need it.
Not All Money is Created Equal: Credit cards are generally the safest option because shoppers can seek a credit from the issuer of the card if the item isn’t delivered or not what was ordered.
The Zogby International survey of more than 3,500 Americans has a margin of error of +/- 1.7%.
Source: National Cyber Security Alliance
Poll finds Americans very concerned about exposure to toxic chemicals
Voters want the EPA to be given more power to regulate chemicals
A poll conducted in August by Lake Research Partners found Americans very concerned with how chemicals are regulated for consumer use in the U.S. The findings come as overhaul of the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) will be introduced soon in both Houses of Congress.
Voters are concerned that, under TSCA, chemicals in existence prior to 1976 were grandfathered in to be used and produced in the U.S. without testing or regulation. (87 percent were somewhat or very concerned). Eighty percent of voters were concerned that the EPA was unsuccessful in banning asbestos under current law. Eighty-four percent were concerned that the EPA has mandated testing of barely 200 out of the over 80,000 on the market since 1976.
“Voters across almost all demographic and political groups said that regulations on chemicals were not strong enough,” said pollster Celinda Lake. “People definitely are not confident about how chemicals are currently regulated, but they’re ready to give the EPA authority to protect consumers.”
Hundreds of recent scientific studies associate chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, which are used in baby bottles, pacifiers, canned foods and toys, with a variety of chronic diseases, including diabetes, asthma, increased risk of certain types of cancer and infertility.
“The public is aware of a growing body of science linking common chemicals to chronic diseases and they’re waking up to the fact that the existing law isn’t working,” says Andy Igrejas, director of the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition. “Americans are doing their best to shop smart, but we can’t protect our families without help, and without strong reforms to put common sense limits on toxic chemicals.”
Majorities of Democrats, Independents and Republicans say they would support legislation that would take toxic chemicals off the market if they have been detected in babies at birth or in infants, and exposure to other known toxic chemicals, such as formaldehyde, that have been extensively studied, will be reduced to the maximum extent possible.
The poll was commissioned by the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition and has a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent. The poll was conducted among 1,000 registered voters nationwide Aug. 25 to 31, 2009. More detailed poll results available at www.saferchemicals.org.
Source: Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition
Poll: Mexicans say amnesty would increase illegal immigration
Mexicans also Feel Mexican-Americans Should Be Loyal to Mexico
A new survey by Zogby International finds that people in Mexico think that granting legal status to illegal immigrants would encourage more illegal immigration to the United States. As the top immigrant-sending country for both legal and illegal immigrants, views on immigration in Mexico can provide insight into the likely impact of an amnesty, as well as other questions related to immigration.
The results are on the Center for Immigration Studies’ website:http://cis.org/ZogbyPoll-EffectsOfAmnesty .
Among the findings:
- A clear majority of people in Mexico, 56 percent, thought giving legal status to illegal immigrants in the United States would make it more likely that people they know would go to the United States illegally. Just 17 percent thought it would make Mexicans less likely to go illegally. The rest were unsure or thought it would make no difference.
- Of Mexicans with a member of their immediate household in the United States, 65 percent said a legalization program would make people they know more likely to go to America illegally.
- Two-thirds of Mexicans know someone living in the United States; one-third said an immediate member of their household was living in the United States.
- Interest in going to the United States remains strong even in the current recession, with 36 percent of Mexicans (39 million people) saying they would move to the United States if they could. This is consistent with a recent Pew Research Center poll which found that about one-third of Mexicans would go to the United States if they could. At present, 12 to 13 million Mexico-born people live in the United States.
- An overwhelming majority (69 percent) thought that the primary loyalty of Mexican-Americans (Mexico- and U.S.-born) should be to Mexico. Just 20 percent said it should be to the United States. The rest were unsure.
- Also, 69 percent of people in Mexico felt that the Mexican government should represent the interests of Mexican-Americans (Mexico- and U.S.-born) in the United States.
- A plurality, 39 percent, of Mexicans thought that in the last year fewer people they know had gone to the United States as illegal immigrants compared to previous years. Only 27 percent thought more had gone. The rest thought it had stayed the same or were unsure.
- A plurality, 40 percent, also thought that in the last year more of the illegal immigrants they know had returned to Mexico compared to previous years. Only 25 percent thought the number returning had fallen. The rest thought it had stayed the same or were unsure.
- Both the bad economy and increased immigration enforcement were cited as reasons fewer people were going to America as illegal immigrants
- and more were coming back to Mexico.
Discussion
As the nation begins debates the issue of immigration, the perspective of people in Mexico is important because Mexico is the top sending country for both legal and illegal immigrants. In 2008 one of six new legal immigrants was from Mexico and, according to the Department of Homeland Security, 6 out of 10 illegal immigrants come from that country. Asking people in Mexico their views on immigration can provide insight into the likely impact of an amnesty for illegal immigrants and other questions related to immigration.
This survey is the first to ask people in Mexico if they thought legalizing illegal immigrants in the United States would encourage more illegal immigration. The survey was conducted in August and September of 2009 and consisted of 1,004 in-person interviews of adults throughout Mexico. The findings show that a majority of people in Mexico think that an amnesty would make it more likely that people in Mexico would come to the United States illegally. This is especially true for people who have a member of their households living in the United States. It is important to note that respondents were asked specifically about whether an amnesty would make illegal immigration more likely, not just immigration generally. Other questions in the survey explore attitudes about migration to United States generally, recent trends in migration, and loyalty to the United States.
The results may give pause to those lawmakers who think that an amnesty/legalization for illegals immigrants would reduce illegal immigration in the future. The findings of this survey indicate that an amnesty would encourage more illegal immigration, at least from Mexico.
Methodology
The in-person survey done in Mexico for the Center for Immigration Studies by Zogby International was of 1,004 persons 18 years of age and older. The sampling framework was the most recent (2009) electoral sections defined by the Federal Electoral Institute. A multi-stage sampling procedure was employed that first randomly selected 100 electoral sections proportional to size. Second, two house blocks were randomly selected from each section. Within each block five households were selected using a systematic random procedure. The margin of error for the entire sample is +/- 3.1% for a 95% confidence level. Margins of error are larger for sub-groups.
Source: Center for Immigration Studies
Global poll shows support for increased Government spending and regulation
Majorities around the world support governments playing an active role in stimulating and regulating their national economy in response to the current recession, according to a new poll conducted for BBC World Service.
The survey found that an average of three in five (60%) citizens — and majorities in 13 of the 20 countries polled — support “significantly increasing government spending to stimulate the economy.” Support is especially strong for investments in renewable energy and green technology (72%) and giving financial support to troubled industries and companies (62%).
Most (67% overall) also want to see increased government oversight of the national economy. Among major economies, support was highest in China (94%) and lowest in the US (50%) and Japan (38%).
US efforts to address the crisis have been relatively well-received around the world. Nearly half (46%) of all respondents say they are satisfied with what it has been doing, with 39% expressing dissatisfaction.
In comparison, 44% on average are satisfied with their own government’s response, 36% are satisfied with the actions of the World Bank and IMF, 32% with executives of major banks and 31% with the government of China. People in developed countries are less satisfied with these groups than are people in developing countries.
People’s satisfaction with their own government’s response varies greatly. Most express satisfaction in Australia (68%), Egypt (63%), Brazil (59%), Canada (57%), and Indonesia (57%). However, satisfaction is low in France (27%), Mexico (9%), Japan (18%), and the Philippines (24%). Americans have evenly divided views of their government’s response.
The results are drawn from a survey of 22,158 adult citizens across 20 countries, jointly conducted by GlobeScan and the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) at the University of Maryland. GlobeScan coordinated fieldwork between 19 June and 17 August, 2009.
GlobeScan Chairman Doug Miller comments, “It is clear that citizens in many countries are still not seeing the kind of economic leadership they think is needed from their national government. Particularly low levels of satisfaction in Europe, Japan and Latin America suggest that stronger consumer confidence — seen as essential for economic recovery — will take more time in these parts of the world.”
Steven Kull, director of PIPA, comments, “People around the world are looking for a dynamic approach to the economic crisis and are giving relatively good marks to the active efforts of the Obama administration.”
Source: Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) at the University of Maryland