There were devastating hurricanes and earthquakes, a terrorist attack in London, a U.S. death toll in Iraq that passed the 2,000 mark. Some 8,000 Israeli settlers were forced to leave the Gaza Strip after 38 years of occupation. We haven't even mentioned Sudan, FEMA and Karl Rove.

But 2005 wasn't without its high points.

Lance Armstrong won his seventh straight Tour de France; the Chicago White Sox won their first World Series in nearly nine decades.

Iraq held its first free elections in 50 years. "Lost" won an Emmy for best drama. Martha Stewart was released from Camp Cupcake to star in her own reality show.

(OK, so we're not sure about that last one.)

As we enter 2006, there are just some things we desperately want to leave behind.

Particularly Tom Cruise.

We're over "The O.C." and UH football. We're done with skyrocketing gas prices and soaring home values.

Bring on tax relief, Season 3 of "Laguna Beach" and Brangelina!

Island Life staffers pored over newspapers and magazines, had deeply intellectual discussions over martinis and blended coffee drinks, and finally consulted the bottoms of our tea cups to bring you this lowbrow list of what's hot and what's not in this new year, in our opinion.

From hybrid cars to Harry Potter, we've got a take on this modern life's highs and lows.

So indulge us. Make your own list. And read on.

Reach Catherine E. Toth at ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com.