best of 2011

one of my favorite online happenings is the best of lists that come out in december. it helps me realize how much pop culture i missed out on. but since i like them so much, i tried to make my own.

here are some best of 2011 lists, given in nor particular order:

books
1. the death and life of the great american school system, diane ravitch
2. the letter to the philippians, paul
3. random family, adrian nicole leblanc
4. surprised by hope, n.t. wright
5. all the devils are here: the hidden history of the financial crisis, bethany mclean and joe nocera

music
1. love and war & the sea in between, josh garrels
2. the whole love, wilco
3. helplessness blues, the fleet foxes
4. torches, foster the people

songs
1. "home", edward sharp and the magnetic zeroes
2. "love on top", beyonce
3. "whole love", wilco
4. "barton hollow", the civil wars
5. "the idea of growing old", the features

articles
1. "trapped in tbilisi", paul barret, business week
2. "do illegal immigrants pay taxes?", roy germano
3. "the myth of charter schools", diane ravitch, ny times review of books
4. "form one city out of two", brian fikkert, chattarati
5. "beware of greeks bearing bonds", michael lewis, vanity fair
6. "heightening the republican contradictions", andrew sullivan, the daily dish
7. "the ends didn't justify the means", matt welch, reason
8. "'psychic benefits' and the nba lockout", malcolm gladwell, grantland
9. "the shame of college sports", taylor branch, the atlantic
10. "occupy the classroom", nicholas kristof, ny times
11. "dish check: who caused the financial collapse", various, daily dish
12. "when an adult took standardized test forced on kids", marion brady, ecology of education
13. "kim jong-il's golfing accomplishments will never be repeated", cam cole, vancouver sun
14. "‘global commission’ of former officials says war on drugs has failed", eric lach
15. "teach for america: the hidden curriculum of liberal do-gooders", andrew hartman, jacobin

videos
1. "symmetry", radiolab
2. "asset", chalmers center
3. "barry sanders ultimate highlight video"
4. "now is the time for action", herman cain campaign
5. "share the joy"

sports moments i loved
1. first nfl game - texans vs. jaguars
2. abby wambach's header
3. cardinals comeback in game six
4. 2011 nba playoffs
5. going to see nc state beat uva in football