Sunday, February 1, 2009

Sunday Funnies & So Much More





Citizen K. apologizes for the dearth of this week's funnies; neither Ben Sargeant nor Tom Toles would upload. If that continues to be a problem, I may have to discontinue this feature, as most of the other comics come from the soon-to-be-defunct Seattle Post-Intelligencer. In the meantime, click to enlarge. And for more F Minus, Tony Auth, and Zippy the Pinhead go here, here, and here...

There's something special about peer recognition in that it comes from people who share your experience and appreciate what it takes. This is especially the case when the recognition comes from such accomplished bloggers as John Hayes at Robert Frost's Banjo and Sylvia From Over The Hill. So I'm honored to have received the Premio Dardos award from RFB and the Dardos and Superior Scribbler awards from Sylvia. 
The Premio Dardos Award is given for recognition of cultural, ethical, literary, and personal values transmitted in the form of creative and original writing. These stamps were created with the intention of promoting fraternization between bloggers, a way of showing affection and gratitude for work that adds value to the Web."

The rules:
  1. Accept the award by posting it on your blog along with the name of the person that has granted the award and a link to his/her blog.
  2. Pass the award to another five blogs that are worthy of this acknowledgement, remembering to contact each of them to let them know they have been selected for this award.
Without further adieu, here are five blogs that deserve recognition for "creative and original writing:"

I'm admittedly biased on this one but...Premium T.'s verse-like entries provide a poet's perspective on the beauties of everyday life with humor and insight. Terrific photographs and meditations on recipes and food, if I do say so myself!

The artist PWALLY writes with flair and humor about work experiences, past loves, and the stories behind her paintings. Don't miss her current entry ("Attempted Murder By Cologne"), wherein a fellow employee's body odor leads to an emergency room visit.

She hasn't been at it long and I wish she'd write more, but Molly The Dog's Caterpillars to Butterflies is already a must-read for Citizen K. Molly employs plain, repertorial language to tell stories of her experiences as a nurse at an inner city clinic, writing in a way that combines realism with compassion.

Foxessa blogs at Fox Home with passion and knowledge -- two traits that don't always appear in the same person -- about any subject that comes to mind, but especially her passions of history, New Orleans and the Caribbean, literature, movies, and women's issues. Although even this sells short her eclectic range.

Strictly speaking, Renegade Eye may not be what the creators of the Dardos Award had in mind: A typical entry is an article pulled from a left-wing publication. But Ren has created an environment that encourages the left and right to debate (often fiercely) while he moderates the discussion with well-placed and articulated comments. He merits recognition, and here it is...

The Axeman of Old New Orleans
New Orleans. 1917. Based on a true story. A serial killer stalks the streets. 3 distinct detectives try to find him. Who will get there first? - Murder - Voodoo - The Birth of Jazz - Interracial love - Floods - Police Corruption - Intrigues. This script contains racist dialogue and characters and some violent and sexual episodes...

Leonard Pitts takes on the dittoheads here. Those people will never understand the liberal hatred of Bush and Cheney: What started out as principled opposition became hatred only after the Bush Administration personalized opposition as unpatriotic...

Ann Powers criticizes the new Bruce Springsteen album as "stirring but slight." I'm so unimpressed with what I've heard that for the first time since I became a fan -- back in 1974 -- I didn't run out and buy it on the release date. More on this later...

4 comments:

Frank Partisan said...

Thank you for the honor.

If you read the blog from the start of it, you'd be in shock. My blog started covering pop culture and quite different politics. I supported the Iraq invasion. You can follow my evolution. The debates are important, because they changed me.

I never dreamed of some of the rightist arguments I encounter. There are many people who deny the existence of Palestinians.

I like to test ideas as well. Even rightists usually don't challenge my analysis.

I will pass the award on, when there is a calm in the world situation.

Mage said...

Goodness........what good stuff. When ever will I find time to read all the blogs.

Our local paper is up for sale, and I watch them cut pages, cut columns, cut everything to save money. It's awful to watch dinosaurs die.

K. said...

Maggie, I have the same dilemma.

Ren, I had no idea that you were once an Iraq war hawk. I need to set aside time to read back issues of Renegade Eye!

Molly The Dog said...

K., I am honored that you would think of my blog for this award. I'm glad there are people besides me who think these stories are worth telling. Thank you.

Since I'm new to this, I will wait a bit to pass on this award.