My worst of 2011:

1. REM’s break up. I mean, it’s not a surprise or anything, but they were such an iconic group, and such an important part of my young adulthood. It’s weird to think they aren’t around.

2. Amy Winehouse’s death. I’ve not listened to her music, but her death was a tragedy. What was worse was the rhetoric surrounding it, as if she deserved her illness and death in some way.

3. Speaking of rhetoric, Gabrielle Giffords’ shooting. The man who shot her is clearly very ill, but the shooting exposed some very ugly parts of American political rhetoric, which, unfortunately, is still going strong.

4. Charlie Sheen. Another ill person who clearly needs help and instead is held up as entertainment.

5. Most reality shows. I admit, I do like some, such as the various cooking shows and “So You Think You Can Dance.” I enjoy shows that celebrate talent and hard work. Ones that exploit people — like Toddlers and Tiaras, Real Housewives, Hoarders, etc, are pretty gross.

1. Though I did lose most of my itunes when my PC crashed, I think having cancer kind of sucked more.

2. The zillions of movies and television shows featuring domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual violence as plot points or in a few cases, the basis for the entire show.

3. Hate making a big comeback.

4. DC’s reboot, which I believe is the houndred and fifth reboot since 1985.

5. The death of Randy Savage.