Reasons 61 through 70 - good things I saw this year, part two.

61. The Kiyoshi Nagata Ensemble at the civic centre in Elliot Lake. It's rare to get an artistic event up North that's worth getting excited about. These artists - whose musical talent is matched by unbelievable physical strength - actually rocked that little Northern town.

62. The Massive Change exhibit at the AGO. Totally overstimulating, but thought-provoking, and a refreshing - ahem - change from the usual shows at the gallery.

63. The first season of Northern Exposure on DVD. I love discovering old cool things.

64. Corner Gas. I know everyone is all "blah blah blah, it's saving Canadian television," and I know the hype will likely kill it, but this little program is pretty damned entertaining right now.

65. Oprah. Way too much of it. She's the secret addiction of unemployed people everywhere.

66. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Still the best thing on television. I like anyone who interprets Lance Armstrong's career-ending eleventy-millionth Tour de France victory with a graphic reading "Quitter!"

67. The Catherine the Great exhibit at the AGO. Opulence is fun, especially when it's educational.

68. The year-end pageant of the youth dance club in Elliot Lake. I was expecting cheap tutus and lots of adorable mugging. What I got was an awesome display of athleticism, grace and agility. And these kids were, like, 13. I'm quite serious here. It was one of the best dance displays I've ever seen.

69. Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. Because, as Bill Waterson once said, "I've never understood people who remember childhood as a happy time."

70. My roomates, dressed in full Amiga garb, dancing around my living room singing and hooting, with sombreros flailing and mini-pistols in full shot. Even though I was taking part, the image is one I won't soon forget.