(For the week of Aug. 27 to Sept. 2)***

|- MUSIC -|- BOOKS -|- VIDEO -|- CULTURE/TECH -|- POLITICS -|

If you are listed below, first - you earned it and thank you, Second, please feel free to use the button below on your own site for picks this week. Right click this image to get the URL. gif listed first, jpg second. If you link the image to your winning post that would be even better.

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MUSIC: Matt Freelove's picks of the week
(Temple Stark is willingly stepping aside as music editor to take a stronger hold of the site's "big picture" in that other role he has - Executive Editor. Matt Freelove has taken the reins over this last week and admirably fills the position. He will work to take the section - along with everyone who writes there - to new, higher levels.)

Matt: Lots of re-examinations in music this week:

Review: Al Green - Back Up Train by John Owen, Sept. 1
John Owens short but sweet look at Al Greens first album, Back Up Train.

The New Pornographers: Twin Cinema by Legendary Monkey, Aug. 30.
Legendary Monkeys balanced, in-depth review of The New Pornographers Twin Cinema

Classic Album: Tom Waits - Rain Dogs by Cian Traynor, Sept. 2.
Cian Traynor takes another look at Tom Waits classic Rain Dogs, and likes what he sees.

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BOOKS: Pat Cummings' picks of the week

Supreme Command - Eliot A. Cohen by Joshua Sharf, Aug. 30
THIS is what a review should do: give us solid reasons to read a book we otherwise might never have considered — or heard of. Joshua picks out a strong example for each of four leaders from Cohen's exploration of civilian leadership of the military in time of war. Outstanding!

Does Anybody Else Read This Way? by Bryce Zabel, Sept. 1
I love these meta-reviews! Bryce's leaps from one book to another, and his choice of material for reading aloud to his son spark lots of suggestions from book-loving BlogCritics.

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VIDEO: Eric Berlin's picks of the week

It's epic posts week over in Video!

Review: The Godfather
Review: The Godfather Part II by Brandon Valentine, both Aug. 29

Brandon Valentine does the epic Godfather franchise justice via two grand and sweeping posts. He argues that each should have the esteemed four-star rating bestowed upon them without dispute. And I can hardly doubt the truth of this wise conclusion. But is it the best gangster film of all time?

Tom the Dog's Completely Unfair Preview of the Fall 2005 TV Season
Tom the Dog's Completely Unfair Preview of the Fall 2005 TV Season, Part 2 by TTD, first Aug. 31, 2nd, Sept. 1.
Tom the Dog just keeps on coming with this irreverent preview series on the Fall television season's offerings. Tom's overall assessment: not looking so good. For example, we learn that Ghost Whisperer is the kind of program that "makes me want to smack someone."