Everyone gets a gold star! Except for you, you know who you are.*

The Arte y Pico. Parlez-vous espagnol ?

Sure, it's not the Annual Montgomery Burns Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence, but it's something.

Something that I received recently from susan and Utah Savage and from Betty C. back in, er, um, May. If Betty were to retract it due to my legendary laziness, she'd be well within her rights. But ahead we must march and dispense of these things to five other people, guilt be damned.

By all means, take your time. I did.

The rules, and no deviation. We don't like deviants.

1) Pick five (5) blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also for contributing to the blogging community, no matter what language.

2) Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.

3) Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself.

4) Award-winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of “Arte y Pico” blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award which is here Arte y Pico.

As usual, pretty much everyone I read on a regular basis -- i.e. the Best Clogs of the Entire Tubes® -- has probably received one of these things by now.

1. DivaJood, because, despite being a Cubs fan -- nearly as insufferable as those goddamn Red Sux fans, oh woe is us, go to hell you bastards -- she's a pretty cool chick and writes on anything and everything. Plus, being heavily involved with the travel industry, I'm sure she can score some cheap (read: free) tickets for yours truly to finally visit France.

2. dcap, for there might not be a more consistent poster of richly informative, yet highly comical stuff on the internets. In addition, he seems, despite his Noo Yawk status, to not be evil, which is a good thing. The world already has enough evil.

3. everyone at Jonestown, for even though the proprietor has delusions of empire, he's assembled, including himself (and the previously awarded dcap) quite the cadre of quality writers on topics various and sundry. And if this is someone's second or third award, don't sweat it since each of you is merely getting a slice, thus no need to buy another shelving unit. What, you thought I'd buy a complete award, with engraved base, for each of you? Bah.

4. the Mighty okjimm, who I know already received one, but I don't care. Think of this as your prize for finally getting a goddamn blog. Betcha you're thrilled your name in comments is no longer a somber grey but a shiny, happy blue! Yes, I'm merely angling for him to buy the next round.

5. Unconventional Conventionist, because the dude plays Chopin -- no, not plays it like I do, via the start button on a CD machine, but with actual human fingers -- hates wingnuts and most importantly, the gooey center! DFHs of the world, unite!


*oh, relax. I'm not talking about you.