ten, nine, eight, seven, six. . .

Lose weight! Take the Special K Challenge! Watch The Biggest Loser! Make last-minute tax moves on December 31!

Blah, blah, blah.

Yes, I could stand to lose a few after the 12 Days of Christmas Cookies (what was I thinking?) and I'm always looking to save some $$$. But the HYPE! It gets old fast, plus I don't need to hear it from everybody and their brother.

Instead of focusing on the gloom and doom of the past year - upon which mainstream media did not depend until the late 80s - or making New Year's resolutions I am unlikely to keep, below are some bright spots in 2010.

1. Republicans didn't take EVERY seat in Congress
2. The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest
3. iPad
4. Waiting for Superman
5. Rescue of 33 Chilean miners 
6. US Government officially declared an end to the "combat" in Iraq
7. Sarah Shourd - one of 3 American hikers accused of espionage in Iran - was released
8. Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Liu Xiaobo for his 20+ years working for human rights in China
9. Lady Gaga took off the meat dress
10. Early studies suggest AIDS drugs lower the risk of HIV infection

Now I will resort to the cliché and wish you a Happy New Year. But it's heartfelt nonetheless.