Here it is…
Best Newspaper: The Sullivan Independent
Yes, that weekly, faithful transcriber of the varied events of a small town wins this first category. Sure, I haven’t seen any other papers to compare it against, and I only skimmed the cover (I used to actually open it up, but since the movie theater in town closed down and there are no movie listings to check, there’s no reason to do that anymore), but it still earns my pick. That and I may end up begging for a job there over the summer so beginning to lay it on thick early couldn’t hurt.
Best Magazine: TV Guide
TV listings and articles about said listings: what could be a better combination. No offense meant to Entertainment Weekly (which came in a close second) or Time (a more distant third), but I find myself returning to this magazine on a daily basis. How many people are willing to pick up Time more than once or twice (if even that much)?
Best Book Read: TO BE DETERMINED AT A LATER DATE
I regret to say that with all the time spent in front of the computer and sleeping I’ve yet to finish a book this year. Maybe next week…
Best Website: Sluggy Freelance
On a lark, and because they were cheap, I picked up the first two years of the comic in book form. I’ve been hooked ever since. Though I’m still working my way through the wacky mythology (it tells the tales of a web designer and his crazy, hilarious adventures among vampires, demons, aliens, and his switchblade wielding rabbit bun-bun [he can fit in the palm of your hand but to check this one may have to sacrifice said hand]). It’s wacky, irreverent humor cracks me up and ranks up with such killer webcomics like Real Life Comics and Schlock Mercenary
Best TV Show: Um…let me think… Maybe I should have rethought the timing of the “Best of List,” or at least waited until I did a bit more. Well...I’m gonna go with Enterprise… No! Andy Richter Controls the Universe… No! There was a good Just Shoot Me rerun… No! I’m going with the NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw.
Call me a news junky, call me a person who’s too busy to actually watch the news when in college, but I like sitting down for the national news over vacation. My dad has a thing about CBS’s Dan Rather and I usually only watch ABC news in the morning.
Best Movie: Back to the Future Part III
This is the closing chapter of one of the best trilogies of all time. It’s a killer sequel that incorporates classic themes from the original along with creative variations and plot twists. The final chapter, where Marty McFly goes back in time to rescue Doc Brown from meeting an untimely death in 1885 is funny, entertaining, and acts as a fitting capstone to the series.
Second Best Movie: Back to the Future: Part 1
What did you expect? Instead of repeating praises of the series I’ll just move on to…
Best Movie of the Year other than an entry in the Back to the Future Franchise (Skipping over Back to the Future Part II and In Lieu of 4th Best Movie of the Year): Wag the Dog
This political satire, seemingly meant to mock the Clinton Presidency, was based on a novel that joked the Persian Gulf War was staged merely to boost George Bush 1.0’s Presidency. It’s reflection on manipulating human nature, politics, and the mass media proved to be prophetic as time went on (I even remember a press conference where the movie was mentioned by a reporter who drew parallels). I think the observations made are timeless, poignant, and hilarious.
Best Toothpaste: Colgate – Mint Flavored, Blue Classic
Call me old fashioned, but even in the 21st century it’s nice to be able to hold on to products one has used for over a decade. It may not be as simple as it once was (now there’s choices to be made between mint with teeth-whitening, baking soda, extra fluoride, or classic with long-lasting or quick-acting formulas and rainbow of colors to choose from), but it’s always been with me. Since my first toothbrush (shaped like an alligator) to my current toothbrush (shaped like a toothbrush) Colgate is still number one for me.
I think that covers everything for now. I may have to revise things as 2003 progresses, but for now, at least the best post of January 6, 2003.
Thus far, of course…
