(For the week of Nov. 19 to Nov. 25, posted the following Wednesday)***
Please feel free to use this image on your own site for picks this week. Right click this image to get the URL for the gif. If you link the image to your winning post at your home site that would be even better.
These are "best of's" from people who have previously been chosen by editors. This is a way to broaden the output and get a feel for what others like, while remaining focused on great writing. The guidelines for choosing are HERE. I f you were chosen by an editor below, please read before choosing your own.
1. Mary K. Williams ::: Review: A Girl Like Sugar, by Emily Pohl-Weary by Bonnie, Nov. 24.
First, the title intrigued me. Then, the review did what it was supposed to do, make me want more. Bonnie gives us a well written, succinct review of the book, A Girl Like Sugar. She expresses her enjoyment of the book, while at the same time acknowledges its possible shortcomings. I can see myself checking this title out soon. Good stuff!
2. Don Baiocchi's pick ::: DVD Review: Mr and Mrs Smith by Kirsten Cameron, Nov. 21
I haven't seen the film, but this review is a pretty convincing reason not to. Using scathing humor and relentless personal and professional attacks on the film's stars, you get the feeling that not only should Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie not have made this movie, they shouldn't be allowed to make any other movie ever again until they learn (or re-learn) how to act. While I'd prefer the review to actually spell Ms. Jolie's name correctly, you get the feeling that Ms. Cameron doesn't even respect the actress enough to bother with her name. This review is harsh, yet hilarious. I hope Ms. Cameron sees other horrible films so I can read more reviews like this one. [Temple's note ::: spelling fixed]
3. deekay's pick ::: My Editors Pick Pick would be Victor Lana's Memories of Thanksgivings Past. Even if it's about the wrong Thanksgiving for a Canadian like me, it's a beautifully written piece evoking memories of family holidays, or at least dreams of family holidays I wish I had!
Withdrawal from Iraq: A Moral Quandary by Michael J. West, Nov. 20
It's all well and good to want US soldiers out of Iraq right now. But as West reminds us in this eloquent piece, the US invasion caused - and continues to cause - the nation's present woes. And when it comes to dealing with the havoc this nation has wrought, says West, there are no easy answers for either the left or the right.
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
Nice GIF action Temple.
2 - DrPat
Hey -- I love the graphics, makes it very SWISHHhh (not gay, man, but the sound the basketball makes going through the hoop!)
3 - Mat Brewster
Thanks for the pick. Um, where do I send my choice?
4 - Connie Phillips
Great graphics, Temple! Very Nice touch!
5 - Norbela
Congratulations to all who were picked this week!!!
6 - Temple Stark
Mat. I'm going to send out an e-mail to those chosen this week.
On the 40/60 chance that I don't however my e-mail for this is writer @ templestark.com
7 - kirsten
Hey! Thanks for the pick -- appreciate it.
Not to make excuses for myself or anything, but I did realize after the fact, that I'd spelled Jolie's name incorrectly. L'horreur! I tried to go in and edit it, but must have been having one of those days, because I couldn't even find it in the archives. Thanks to Temple for going in and fixing it up all nice...!
8 - Scott Butki
Thanks for picking me. I'm honored.
9 - gypsyman
I just wanted to comment on Dave's article on John F. Kennedy. This must be one of the best political posts I have ever read. Period. It's true for the whole damn world unfortunately. There are no leaders anymore, we have a bunch of people too scared to risk losing an re election to do anything as daring as even L.B.J. did in America. People forget that it was actually under him that the civil rights legislation was enacted: as Dave rightly points out who knows what would have happened to Kennedy if he had been around until 68 and had to deal with Vietnam like L.B.J.
A great post from someone I hardly ever agree with, which makes it all the better. Well done Dave.
10 - Victor Lana
Thanks for picking my post, Deekay. That one means a lot to me.
11 - LegendaryMonkey
I'm late to this, but I LOVE the new look.
However... remind me to bite you or otherwise stomp angrily around over something.
12 - Intrepid Swine
Hippie ass shit. And I should know.
13 - pogblog
That black banner with the white writing is darn cool. Congratulations to someone.
14 - Temple Stark
I thought I had replied poglog but I guess not.
I was going to design a new button, but that seemed too hard at the moment I was thinking. So I flipped up (as in I designed) the banners the same day I put up the picks.
Glad they were met with favor.
-temple