I nominate the "miracle of Fatima" thread for bringing forth some of the most innovative creative writing ever seen on the web in a single place, and that too in the comments section.

super job EB, thanks for leading Editor's Picks into the next generation! Thanks too to Temple for the original idea and iteration

Ha brilliant! Thank you Duke for the pick, I am honoured beyond all caskets full of flaming albatros' with Switzerland for heads. Cheers!

Thanks EO! And thanks also to Temple -- I shall try to keep the tradition alive and strong.

Thank you so much, Connie!

Congrats to all the picks!

Thank you, Chris!

Thanks for the nod, Lisa. Glad I could make you realize your inner quit-stay. :o)

Congrats to those picked.

Thanks. I liked the book. I am glad you liked the review.

I was about to take Shark's recent jibe about blogging as intellectual masturbation and give the blogging addiction up. Like masturbation, however, it is fun -- especially with a second pick of the week to feel good about.

It's also "stimulating"

Wow! I'm honored and terrified ... and thrilled that wonkiness sometimes works! Thanks!

My Blogcritics fave so far this week is Best Disturbing Songs by Scott Butki (music review). Scott takes an admittedly subjective look at lyrics (not melodies; whole 'nother story there!) that he finds particularly unsettling and tells why. Interesting choices, personal, political, visceral, which is what good music should do -- make you feel it. And the ensuring comment thread is just as fascinating readers look inside themselves and their CD cabinets.

I also want to give a nod to Joe Battista's review of the new Jimmie Dale Gilmore CD. A little outside the nomination time frame parameters (posted Dec. 1), but I enjoyed reading about a singer/songwriter and style of music that doesn't get much mainstream attention.

d'oh! proofed twice and still missed it -- ensuing not ensuring!

Since I was one of the Chosen for the week and get to nominate another; even though mine was for a book review I would like to nominate Dave Nalle's Eugene McCarthy: The Last Great Progressive at Eugene McCarthy.

I was impressed by it not merely because it reminded me of times past and a sense of political honesty and responsibility but because it was so well written, cogent, organized, and insightful.

Not only all of that but it introduced me to the idea of politician as poet; a truly 18th and 19th century concept. As are responsible politicians, it seems.

Kudos to Dave for a eulogy that met the quality of the man.

Thanks, Kay.
Yes, Dave's piece is great.

Congrats to all chosen this week.

Thanks, Alpha and Scott.

Alpha, you make me think I should have said something about his poetry in the text of the article. The poem I quoted has actually been anthologized extensively and is considered a 'significant' poem, so he wasn't just a dabbler in poetry, he had some real talent.

You also make me think that I ought to write something on literary political figures like Disraeli, Oliver Wendell Holmes and even Newt Gingrich. I think that as a group they tend to be among the more interesting and insightful of our leaders.

Dave