Truth be told, for someone like me who thrives on lists and rankings, I have a difficult time with the concept of ‘best of’. Why? Subjectivity. Let me give you a good example.
A family member who shall remain nameless remarked when discussing the pizza he had sampled in Italy (the holy land and mecca of the pie), “It’s good, but it’s no Venice Pizzeria.”
He meant Venice in St. John’s…
A co-worker at this very publication, during a conversation on a particular Hollywood drama that blew me away in 2019 mocked, “Garbage! What a waste of time. I can’t believe you like that *expletive expletive*!”
On the flip side, I hate country music, while the vast amount of friends, family, and certainly Newfoundlanders and Labradorians live and breathe it, with a little bit of chicken fried.
I don’t see the hype or appeal surrounding eggs, while more than one person recently has made it clear that eggs make up the sweet space between need it daily and a necessary last meal.
To each their own
To each their own, is the point I’m getting at. So who am I, one with opinions that don’t necessarily match the median population, to say what is the definitive best of anything? Let alone for a calender year or decade?!
But it’s an easy sell. Digestible, fun to read, easier to agree or disagree with. It’s the type of thing that keyboard warriors feed off of in 2020. “You don’t agree with me? How dare you? I hope your mother goes blind and your tires blow out halfway down Signal Hill!”
That’s not an actual quote, but not too far away from not being hyperbole. What I do love about rankings and the proverbial best of the best is – agree or disagree – it’s a fantastic time to put the spotlight on deserving individuals, in many cases, for a wide array of subjects.
‘Best in Entertainment’
In our annual ‘Best in Entertainment’ here at The Newfoundland Herald we have the unenviable task of sifting through 53 issues of the past year and picking out standout stories that make up the very best in music, film, sports, comedy, fiction. You name it.
It’s the type of thing that’s bound to ruffle some feathers because, let’s face it, no one is perfect, particularly and especially, those in the media. There are bound to be omissions and someone’s favourite something or that one deserving soul will be left out. Just know it’s not done maliciously or with bias in mind.
Issues like these are a reminder of just how blessed we are to live in Newfoundland and Labrador today. There’s plenty to create that ol’ up-in-arms feeling here on ‘The Rock’ at the dawn of the decade, which makes taking a moment to salute some of our very best and brightest all the more necessary.
So sit back, relax, and try not to take the following too personally. Because opinions are a lot like meals. Some are good, some amazing, some are fit for the garbage. But at the end of the day it’s always nice to be fed.