— Philip J. Davis

We're surrounded by numbers, especially around this time of year. Every critic has his or her Top 10 list, there's the annual countdown on New Year's and let's not forget the pounds we gained over the holidays — and how many we resolve to lose starting Jan. 1.

No matter how well you may or may not be in math, we make decisions every day based on numbers.

And sometimes they tell us about ourselves.

Numbers simplify our world, or so here reporter Steve Friedman learns as he gathers an odd assortment of Marin's stats for this week's Covered.

Meanwhile, Barfly offers up his own numbers, a list of resolutions for 2010.

No matter how you celebrate tonight, we at here wish you a happy, healthy new year.

To us, you'll always be No. 1.

Write to me at editor.here@gmail.com, drop me at line at here, P.O. Box 6150, Novato 94948 or just add your comments at www.marin-sonoma-here.com.

— Vicki Larson, here editor