Around the beginning of each year, I customarily write a column about how we¡¯ve just had the ¡°best year ever¡± in the long history of humanity.

This annual eruption of exuberance outrages some readers who see it as disrespectful of all the tragedies around us. Others welcome it as a reminder that even in our messed-up world, many trends are still going right.

So this year, I heard from readers asking: Where¡¯s your ¡°best year ever¡± column?