Gaming
Gaming Editor: Ken Edwards
Roger Ebert and Video Games: A Sign of the Times by Matt Paprocki (Dec. 6)
Video games are art, no less than film. Roger Ebert disagrees though. Why? Paprocki shares a rebuttal to Ebert's latest take on video games.
Best Articles Written By Blogcritics.org Editorial Team
As chosen by the very same, the self-referential and spotlight seeking thugs that we are!
Blogcritics.org Executive Producer Eric Berlin chose:
TV Preview: A Charlie Brown Christmas — Glad Tidings of Great Joy by Eric Olsen (Dec. 6)
EO won me over on the strength of this wonderful paragraph:
Schultz dared to directly search for the meaning of Christmas amidst commercialized children (some gleefully, some reluctantly so) and innocence lost, most pointedly symbolized by a garish Christmas tree lot filled with neon-colored aluminum trees, stiffly reflecting both the searchlight glare and soulless artificiality of Christmas in mid-20th century America.
Music Editor Connie Phillips (and Blogcritics writer Mike West!) chose:
Remembering Lennon and Dancing on Dec. 8 By Natalie Davis (Dec. 8)
In a week when many were remembering a legend, Natalie articulates her memories and emotions of a painful day in music history with eloquence and grace. She also reflects on lessons learned that she holds dear.
Editor and all-around all-star Justene Adamec chose:
Internet Ad Share to Double by 2010 by Eric Olsen (Dec. 9)
The fearless leader of Blogcritics, Eric Olsen, has been one of the players on the internet since the dark ages of 3 1/2 years ago. In this, his best article of the week, he puts Internet advertising in perspective — why it was only 5% of the total market in '04 and where it's going. Of course, there's also his personal opinion of pop-ups.
More Best of Blogcritics.org Articles of the Week
As chosen by Blogcritics who have had their work highlighted by editors last week
Pete Blackwell chose:
The Fifteen Dollar Future by Chancelucky (Dec. 12)
It's not often that a post can make you feel simultaneously great and crappy about being an American. Idealism is alive and well and it's nice to remember that sometimes the "invisible hand" is there to smack some sense into us.
Zach Hoskins from Modern Pea Pod chose:
CD Review: Here, My Dear by Marvin Gaye by Michael J. West (Dec. 8)
These days, it's a rare thing to come across music criticism that doesn't just rehash the same old tired albums or artists. But Mr. West, hot on the heels of his well-researched essay on the ambiguities of modern folk music, has done it. His revelatory look back at Marvin Gaye's Here My Dear is neither mediocre choir-preaching nor a self-indulgent attempt at slaughtering sacred cows; instead, he brings to light an album which has been overlooked and underrated by many (including myself), and by god, the results made me want to get off the computer, run to the record store and buy myself a copy. That's what music writing is about, folks.
Article comments
1 - Aaman
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.
2 - Eric Olsen
super job EB, thanks for leading Editor's Picks into the next generation! Thanks too to Temple for the original idea and iteration
3 - Aaron Fleming
Ha brilliant! Thank you Duke for the pick, I am honoured beyond all caskets full of flaming albatros' with Switzerland for heads. Cheers!
4 - Eric Berlin
Thanks EO! And thanks also to Temple -- I shall try to keep the tradition alive and strong.
5 - Chris Beaumont
Thank you so much, Connie!
Congrats to all the picks!
6 - Eric Berlin
Thank you, Chris!
7 - Mark Sahm
Thanks for the nod, Lisa. Glad I could make you realize your inner quit-stay. :o)
8 - Scott Butki
Congrats to those picked.
9 - alpha
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.
10 - Eric Berlin
It's also "stimulating"
11 - Kay Bell
Wow! I'm honored and terrified ... and thrilled that wonkiness sometimes works! Thanks!
12 - Kay Bell
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.
13 - Kay Bell
d'oh! proofed twice and still missed it -- ensuing not ensuring!
14 - alpha
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.
15 - Scott Butki
Thanks, Kay.
Yes, Dave's piece is great.
Congrats to all chosen this week.
16 - Dave Nalle
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