So today's blog entry is a look back at some of the year's highlights featuring the women we've loved and loathed.

In January, three-year-old Bindi Irwin deserved a round of applause. Not just because she's cute (and is the only girl who can look cute in a khaki safari suit) but she resisted dobbing her family in to Dr Phil's Family in Crisis series when her dad, Steve, did a marionette show for the crocodiles using Baby Bob as a puppet.

Also in January, Britney Spears married Jason Alexander (no, not the Seinfeld actor, her childhood friend) in a Vegas chapel. The union was quickly annulled - because Britney's mum said so.

In February, it was all about Janet Jackson - or more specifically Janet Jackson's nipple when she flashed her breast on live television during America's Super Bowl and then claimed that it was a "wardrobe malfunction". Jackson officially wins the 2004 "Look At Moye Puhlease" award because not since Dennis Rodman donned a wedding dress has the world seen such a blatant bid for publicity. Jackson just happened to have a new album coming out - what a coincidence.

Also in February, British author and Harry Potter's mummy, Joanne Kathleen Rowling, was listed on the Forbes List as one of the world's wealthiest people. With book sales of 250 million, Rowling is one of only five self-made female billionaires (Oprah Winfrey is another) and the only billionaire author.

In March, we saw America's domestic diva, Martha Stewart, convicted of obstructing justice and lying to investigators over the sale of ImClone Systems stock. Stewart is serving a five-month sentence at Camp Cupcake (or Club Fed, as some like to call it) - the name given to the minimum security prison in West Virginia. Rumours abound that she will be hosting a talk show when she gets out.

May saw the birth of a healthy baby, Apple, to actress Gwyneth Paltrow and Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin. Paltrow was said to be surprised by the criticism she received over naming her child after a piece of fruit. Go figure.

In July, author Norma Khouri won the "Fairlie Arrow Award For Credibility" when it was revealed that Forbidden Love, her memoir tracing the honour killing of her best friend in Jordan, was fictitious. The best-selling author, who has gone by the names Norma Khouri, Norma Albaqeen, Norma Bagain and Art Vandelay (Okay, maybe I made that last one up), already had sold 200,000 copies of her book in Australia before it was withdrawn from bookshelves.

October saw well-known philanthropist Oprah Winfrey embark on the biggest give-away in television history. To celebrate the launch of the 19th season of Oprah, the talk show queen tracked down 276 people who were in desperate need of a new car and gave each of them a new Pontiac G-Six car worth $US28,500 ($37,735). The bad news? The recipients had to pay $7,000 in taxes if they planned to keep it.

Also in October, Jessica "Is tuna actually chicken?" Simpson's little sister, Ashlee, proved she's not just a talented singer. She's also a ventriloquist.

When the 19-year-old appeared on Saturday Night Live to sing her hit song, Pieces Of Me, her vocals began when she was still holding the microphone at her waist. And her lips weren't moving. Simpson has blamed the incident on reflux - the sound of her own voice apparently makes her puke.

And this month we were all treated to a bizarre performance by 36-year-old grandpa pasher Anna Nicole Smith at the American Music Awards. On stage to introduce rapper Kanye West, Smith appeared intoxicated as she lent over the podium and slurred: "Do you like my body?". Smith has since blamed the incident on not being able to read the autocue.