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BC-BARRY-YEARINREVIEW-SHORT-ADV26:MI _ lifestyle (2860 words)

Dave Barry's Year in Review

(NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR KRT NEWS SERVICE SUBSCRIPTION. NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR DAVE BARRY SUBSCRIPTION. See purchase information below.) (Sunday 12-26 release)

By Dave Barry

Knight Ridder Newspapers

(KRT)

Looking back on 2004, we have to conclude that it could have been worse.

``HOW??'' you ask, spitting out your coffee.

Well, OK, a giant asteroid could have smashed into the earth and destroyed all human life except Paris Hilton and William Hung. Or Florida could have been hit by 20 hurricanes, instead of just 17.

Or the Yankees could have won the World Series.

But no question, 2004 was bad. Consider:

_We somehow managed to hold a presidential election campaign that for several months was devoted almost entirely to the burning issue of: Vietnam.

_Our Iraq policy, despite being discussed, debated and agreed upon right up to the very highest levels of the White House, did not always seem to be wildly popular over there in Iraq.

_Perhaps most alarming of all, Cher yet again ...