As the clock ticks away toward the start of 2007, I thought I’d take a quick trip down memory lane with a look at the best post of each month of 2006. In a few of the months, the competition was stiff when it came to deciding which might have been my “best” offering.

(Not because I thought they were all so good, but because there were months in which singling any post as deserving of a second visit was a tough search.)

My best post of the year, I think, is September’s tribute to Josh Birnbaum. You’ll find that post linked below, along with eleven others that might give some of my newer readers a glimpse of the inner workings of my old noggin.

January: Judging the ‘Book’ By Its Cover
A mid-season replacement series faced some tough — and in my mind, unfair — criticism from a bunch of religious groups who were badmouthing it without even having seen it. Here were my comments about their protests and the show itself.

February: Visitors Mourn Maymont Bears
Richmond, Virginia was shocked and saddened by the euthanization of two black bears on the grounds of Maymont after one of them bit a child who had gotten through one fence and reached his hand through a second one to attempt to pet one of them. Not only were longtime visitors to the park outraged by the bears’ deaths (so that rabies tests could be performed), they were even more angry to learn that the carcasses had been dumped at a landfill. Public outcry did result in the bears being exhumed, cremated, and buried on Maymont grounds, next to their former habitat.

March: Speaking One’s Mind
There seems to be the notion that one should be free to speak one’s mind on any issue, without the possibility of any negative consequences. In America, we have the right to free speech. But in this post, I point out that so does everyone else, and that can sometimes result in fallout.

April: People Skills
A blogger who I considered to be quite nasty in his dealings with other people apparently became the target of threats. In some ways, this post is a sequel to “Speaking One’s Mind.”

May: Scalzi’s Weekend Assignment #112
If you’ve been a reader here for very long, you will have figured out that I love game shows. This post is in response to a challenge to show off a belonging that you think most people don’t have. My piece of game show-related memorabilia may fit that bill nicely.

June: The Institution of Marriage
The gay marriage debate often centered on protecting the institution of marriage. So here is a take from perhaps a different point of view, on that argument.

July: Protecting the Flag
Two days before Independence Day, I wrote this piece about the right to burn the flag. I’m not a fan of that tactic. Some people say I shouldn’t get upset about it, because it’s just a “piece of fabric.” That’s certainly true. But I question what people really gain when they strike a match to that colored cloth.

August: The Cure Conspiracy
A late-night infomercial promising cures “they” don’t want you to know about got me writing about a medical industry conspiracy theory.

September: “I Need to Tell You…”
I participated in the 2,996 Project, which paid tribute to each of the nearly 3,000 people who died in the 2001 terror attacks. I specifically requested Joshua Birnbaum for my post because I had seen his story and the raw footage of interviews with his family at the television station I worked for at the time. His story, and more specifically, their pain at his loss, never left me.

October: The Confederacy and Racism
Is anyone who wears a Confederate flag lapel pin or who attends a Civil War reinactment automatically a racist? There are plenty of people who would say yes. This post explains why I’m not one of them.

November: Just Say No…to the “N-Word”
Comedian Michael Richards’ racial tirade prompted this post about a particular slur that shouldn’t be used…for any reason.

December: Fifty Years Ago Today
This month was a toss-up for me. There was this post about common courtesy prompted by comments from Elizabeth Edwards. Ultimately, while I liked that post, I ended up liking one I published earlier today, about Bob Barker’s golden anniversary on national television, a little better.

If you are so inclined, I hope you’ll drop back by for a second look. Drop me a comment if you wish as well.

And have a Happy New Year!