It's a lot easier to look back than to look ahead. That's why end-of-the-year lists are so popular. We can quantify things that have happened, rank them in order of importance and demonstrate our astute insight into what was, and why.

But what about things that have yet to occur? Unless you're a Nostradamus, quantifying and ranking what's to come is a dicey business. Few ever get it right.

Which is why we enjoy lists based on known things.

Like end-of-the-year top 10 lists.

Top 10 lists are, essentially, headlines from the dense and complex text of a year. They represent quick overviews of the people, events and developments that stood out from the crowd over a 365-day period.

So, on the eve of the new year and in the spirit of listmaking, I offer you my top 10 list of Web sites with the best Top 10 lists for 2007:

50 Top 10 Lists Of 2007

http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/top10/0,30576,1686204,00.html

A huge collection from Time magazine of the top 10 everything. From oddball news stories to movies and museum exhibits. From scientific discoveries to buzzwords and breakups. Enough stuff to get you through the holidays.

Nielsen Lists For 2007

http://www.nielsen.com/media/2007/pr_071211a_download.pdf

A year-end look at the most popular trends among Americans during 2007, compiled in the form of dozens of top 10 lists. Among the topics: TV ratings, most popular music downloads, Web rankings, DVD sales and more.

Best of What's New 2007

http://www.popsci.com/popsci/flat/bown/2007

From Popular Science, a list of technologies developed and released in 2007 that will "drive the next 20 years of innovation."

Google 2007 Year-End Zeitgeist

http://www.google.com/intl/en/press/zeitgeist2007

A look at the top search queries through Google during 2007. Among the top search terms in the U.S. during the year: "iphone," "webkinz," "tmz," "transformers," "youtube," "club penguin," "myspace," "heroes," "facebook" and "anna nicole smith."

Top PR Blunders of 2007

http://www.finemanpr.com/pressreleases.html

Compiled by the public relations firm Fineman PR, this is a useful instruction manual on what not to do when it comes to publicity efforts on behalf of yourself or your company. This year's "winners" include the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Cartoon Network, AsianWeek and Menu Foods. Check out the list to see why these companies, and others, made the top 10.

Lists 2007

http://www.fimoculous.com/year-review-2007.cfm

A clearinghouse of links to Web sites featuring Top 10 lists. We're talking hundreds of lists. And if reading the lists for 2007 doesn't completely satiate your info appetite, you can peruse lists by year going back to 2001.

2007 Online Music Lists

http://www.largeheartedboy.com/blog/archive/2007/11/2007_online_bes.html

Another clearinghouse of Web sites that feature music-related top 10 lists. The collection features a mix of "official" lists (those that measure certain data to arrive at a specific ordering) and "opinion" lists (those based on personal music preferences, usually posted in blogs).

Top Japanese Buzzwords of 2007

http://www.pinktentacle.com/2007/11/top-60-japanese-buzzwords-of-2007

A fascinating compilation of words, phrases and statements that had an impact on Japanese culture, trends and general public discussion during the year. Among the items: "Child-bearing machines," a controversial comment about women in reference to Japan's declining birth rate; "office fees," a term used to describe a category of bribes, scams and pay-offs as a part of doing business; and "physical exam," a term referring to extensive background checks to make sure a person is "clean" in terms of potential controversy before appointing them to a political position.

AFI Awards 2007

http://www.afi.com/tvevents/afiawards07/default.aspx

A list of the top movies and top TV shows of 2007, selected by a panel of judges assembled by the American Film Institute. This is a "bare list"; that is, all it shows are the winners with no comments, links or other information. You can find more details by going to the AFI "tv & events" link on the site and select "AFI Awards." While you're at the AFI site, you can browse numerous Top 100 lists related to movies (go to the same "tv & events" link and select "AFI's 100 years").

Top 12 Strange Health Stories

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,318567,00.html

From the FoxNews.com Web site, a compilation of a dozen of the oddest medical stories from 2007, including the girl with the 10-pound hairball in her stomach, the tree man who sprouted roots, the man with no brain living a functional life, the man who oozed green blood and the person who suffered from "the mother of all hangovers."

(Keith Darnay is the webmaster and designer for bismarcktribune.com. His Web site, featuring this column going back to 1995, is at http://www.darnay.com.iec.)