North Coast Journal Best Of 2011 

Fifty-one weeks a year, we at the North Coast Journal give you the lowdown on the Humboldtcentric things we think you might want/need to know about. Sometimes you like us. Sometimes you hate us. It's all part of a time-honored, poorly choreographed dance. We get it.

But one week a year, y'all have an opportunity to put a Camel Clutch on the content of these pages -- to control who gets the glory and who gets snubbed. And, Humboldt, that week cometh.

Hey! 'Tis once again time to cast your votes in our annual Best Of Humboldt Issue! You, the reader, decide which local folks, businesses and products you feel are going above and beyond to make the North Coast more livable.

This year's list of categories hath been expanded to a daunting 40. Some categories should be easy (Best Bar, Best Beach, Best Grocery Store). Some should rally the troops (Best High School, Best Blog). Some will likely end in fisticuffs (Best Weed Strain, Best Band -- we're watching you St. John and the Sinners faithful). Forty categories is a lot of noggin work, we know. But remember, your temporary hand cramp will really honor the winners. Be community! Vote!

But ballot stuffers beware! Each ballot will be put through an exhaustive 12-step legitimacy verification process -- it involves lasers, trained German shepherds and multiple cases of Pabst. We reserve the right to reject any ballots that smell fishy, either figuratively or literally. In short, don't be that person. Trust democracy.

There are two ways to make your voice heard:

1. Use a writing implement to make words we can understand in the ballot in this week's paper edition. (Somewhat of a pain.) We'll also publish paper ballots in the next two editions.

2. Go online here and make your selections like a modern human. (Less painful.)

This is the most important thing you'll do in the next 20 minutes. Get crackin'.