Each year, The MobTown Shank (The MobTown Shank), like just about every other freakin’ publication (either electronic or in print), compiles a list of top 10s (or so). However, unlike most of those other publications, we actually wait for the year end before we release our YEAR ENDERS. Neat, huh?
Also, unlike those other publications, our Top 10s are not compiled by some wannabe critic with delusions of Lester Bangs (or worse, delusions of Maltin or Ebert or Shales or Klosterman). Naw, here at the Shank, we ask you, the reader who has delusions of Bangs & Shales, to compile the lists.
The list does not have to actually be 10 items long. It can be 5 items long, it can be 15 items long. But 10 does seem to be the average.
We are looking for lists in the following categories:
TOP MOVIES OF 2009
TOP READS OF 2009
TOP MUSIC OF 2009
TOP WEBSITES/BLOGS OF 2009
TOP TV SHOWS OF 2009
TOP EVENTS OF 2009
MISCELLANEOUS
The TOP MOVIES and MUSIC of 2009 are for films and CDs that were released in 2009. If you picked up/downloaded a CD from 2001, it doesn’t count. If you rented a film from 2000, that does not count. You can, if you like, create a special list for the MISCELLANEOUS category (more on that later), but these items must have come out in 2009 to be eligible.
TOP READS of 2009 is for books, comix, magazines, etc that you have read last year. Like MOVIES and MUSIC, these must have been published in 2009. Your list can be all books or all comix or all zines or a combination of all of the above.
TOP TV SHOWS of 2009 must be of TV Shows that originally aired in 2009. If you happened to catch season 2 of ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT in syndication for the first time, or Netflixed season 1 of DEADWOOD, that particular season does not count. Once again, you can create a special category for shows that didn’t originally air in 2009.
TOP WEBSITES are websites that you have visited in 2009. The stipulation here is that they have to have been updated at least once in 2009. BLOGS go here (unless you want to create your own list of Top 10 Blogs, which is totally cool - encouraged even. Bloggers will love it. But they love everything. They're desperate for attention. I should know.).
TOP EVENTS of 2009 can be anything from parties to shows to times you've fallen down to even politics. They must have occurred in 2009.
And finally, MISCELLANEOUS. This category is for any other lists you’d like to compile. If you prefer to focus on the negative, feel free to compile WORST OF lists. If you wish to talk about movies, books, TV shows, albums that you discovered for the first time in 2009, that’s what this section is for. In the past, contributors have complied such lists as: TOP ANNOYANCES, TOP OVER-RATED THINGS, TOP THINGS I ATE THIS YEAR, TOP VIDEO GAMES, BEST MOMENTS OF THE SHANK, etc, etc, etc. In this category, creativity counts.
2008's LIST DIRECTORY
2007's LISTENINGS
2007's WATCHINGS
2007's READINGS
2007's MISC. LISTS
2006's WATCHINGS
2006's LISTENINGS
2006'S READINGS
2006's MISC. LISTS
2005's MUSIC LISTS
2005's MOVIES & TV LISTS
2005's READS, WEB, EVENTS, MISC. LISTS
2004's MOVIES & TV LISTS
2004's MUSIC LISTS
2004'S READS
2004's MISC. LISTS
NOTE!!!! Please include in your lists anywhere between 1 sentence and 1 paragraph of explanation for each item as to why this rates on your list. Readers don't want to just see a list, they want to know why something made the list. That's what makes it interesting.
Our year end wrap-up depends on you. The more lists we get, the better the WRAP-UP is. I have gotten many emails from people who use these lists as recommendations for things to check out, avoid, and reasons to mock their friends.
Please email these lists back to the Shank no later than January 8th.
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