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A Member of the Writers' Guild of Canada

Time to dust off that tuxedo and unroll that red carpet in the back closet. It’s been a full month since the last Shameless Plug Award for Best Article (SPABA), and now we’re getting it restarted in a big away. We’re pleased to bring you the Shameless Plug Articles of the Month (SPAM), a look back on all the great writing put out by eCanadians in April, 2009. To see all other fantastic articles that never made the ‘best’ list, please go to The Great Canadian Article Index (GCAI), where you’ll find them and many, many more from eCanada’s lively literary past.

First, a quick kudos go out to the winner of last SPABAs (March 29-April 4): “News from Congress” by Kelly Mahoney of Home Front Heroes. Kelly Mahoney took home the 50 CAD prize and graced our presence with a fine interview. Read about it checking out the interview posted below the forum poll.

Selecting the best articles for one week was often a difficult task. Therefore, sorting through 4 weeks of inspiring articles and great ideas became too challenging for one person to handle. From the Shameless Plug’s short-list of 16 top articles for April, 5 SPAM nominees were then elected by a panel of WGC members and forum moderators. I would like to thank Coda, Bruck, John Wilkmot, Dade Pendwyn, Alias Vision, and marcchelala for their assistance. You can view the entire list of 16 articles at the forum poll here: http://ecanada.forumotion.com/off-topic-f4/best-article-of-the-month-april-t2289.htm#37961

One of the articles named below will soon be voted as eCanada’s best article for the month of April. The winner will take home a prize of 200 CAD and at least another 50 Gold worth in bragging rights (no, not actual eRep Gold). I’d like to mention that this is private money, all my CAD, which could be invested in such things as weapons or a business. Even though 200 CAD is not enough of a windfall to set up a writer for life, it is an investment in the continued achievement of eCanadian journalism. Someday, I hope the government and other citizen groups take enough interest in the media to offer even greater rewards than my meagre salary.

Please take the time to scan through each of the 5 articles to refresh that memory before submitting your vote. Anyone masked in the eCanada forum will be able to access the poll, since it is in a public folder viewable by all eRepublik players.

The nominees for the Shameless Plug Award for Best Article of the Month (SPABAM):

1. The Freeholder Press - Alias Vision- "What have you done Canada? (WGC)"
The Plug: A very insightful survey of the political climate of eCanada. Alias Vision has included a look back into the past two months, connected it the current seat of power, and reviewed each congressional riding. Not a small task, and not an article to be missed.
Best Lines: Well the votes are in and the image they generate is one of contentment in Canada. You have approved of Bruck's management so far and extended the support you have given him as president to his party in the Congress. You have said that the status quo was acceptable and denied a few activist and socially minded contenders. You have rewarded your veterans and returned a wealth of experience to Congress. The trauma of the Hungarian takeover has been dealt with and put on the shelves of history. Welcome Canada to your April Congress!

2. The Canadian Conduit - Dade Pendwyn – “[WGC] The Reality of the Canadian Housing Market”
The Plug: The Canada Prize semi-finals brought out some amazing entries. Dade Pendwyn’s analysis of the eCanadian business market is quite a departure from his writing style. However, Dade proves he can handle graphs and stats as well as he does irony and social critique. A must read for new business managers.
Best Lines: If you have 50-100 gold and are looking to break into Canadian industry, the food sector would probably gain you the best returns. Diamonds is also a fairly safe bet, but only if you have at least Q2 and are able to export. Weapons are a good low investment option, but beginners should stay away from this market until they understand the nuances of a war market. Oil, tickets, and gifts should be avoided at all costs currently. As it can often be difficult to know where to invest your hard earned gold, I hope this serves as a glimpse into where the Canadian market currently stands, and where the money is in Canadian business.

3. The Scarlet Letters - Vincent Chaotic - The Watchmen of eCanada
The Plug: As we were just saying, CP brought out some of the best and here is another. Vincent uses The Watchmen as an analogy to delve into the equally bigger-than-life characters of eCanada. If you haven’t done so, run out to see the movie then run back here to read through an article that is part clever humour and part psychoanalytic investigation.
Best Lines: Throughout most of our history, eCanada has been dominated by the cult of personality, and in some cases, the cult of personality disorder. The powerful Canadian economy, military and society was built on the backs of hard working eCanadians like you and me. But while the collective consciousness of eCanada has a legitimate claim to our inheritance, so too do particular individuals. . . In a nation so dazzled by the beautiful orator, the cunning politician, and the outspoken citizen, we would be remiss if we did not examine the personality traits of those who so captivate our attention.

4. The Alternate View - Derek Harland - Election Review for the Top 6 Parties
The Plug: Derek Harland is one of those modest writers who work the day-to-day grind of being a journalist without ever receiving deserved acclaim. There are many of them like Derek out there in eCanada, so I was glad to see one such writer make it to the final list to represent that group. Derek’s overview of April’s party president elections offered honest commentary on the winners and the losers….and took a few liberties along the way (see below).
Best Lines: In one of the biggest surprises in eCanada history, Bruck beat our marcchelala by a whopping 77 to 17 massacre. eCanada went in a frenzy after they found this out and were shocked at the results. One person ended up fainting and injured his head on a marcchelala party president bobblehead. Bruck was on vacation to Hawaii at the time because he entered the party president elections off a dare from his buddies and was astounded to know he won. marcchelala was more stupefied than Augustus Baldwin trying to clip his toenails.

5. The Shameless Plug - Plugson - eRep Imagine😛 Part I: "I Blame the Media!", Part II: "Shocking Revelation, It's All in Your Head", and Part III: "We Can Break Through".
The Plug: Plugson, (that’s me), was never before nominated for a best article award because of an obvious conflict of interest. We hope you accept the word of our panel of judges that this series deserves a nomination. In short, the “eRep Imagined” series tries to explain what makes eRepublik unlike any other game out there, which would be the socio-political nature of the media module. Just when you thought reading the news was a good way to stay current or a fun way to pass the time, now it’s become the machine that builds national identity and drives us to war. I just want my daily joke!
Best Lines: Never before in human history have people been able to create a wholly imaginary community reaching out to all ends of our planet, not limited by ‘real’ political borders. eRep’s wars, elections, and business deals are producing a revolutionary political existence. The media module and all forms of eRep communication are the tools enabling that reality. So, despite who has the highest stats, most Gold, or biggest party, what really matters is how we establish the national identity that glues it all together.

Thank you for looking through the best of what eCanadian journalists have to offer. Please take the time to check out the articles and then head to the polls. Click here to submit your vote: http://ecanada.forumotion.com/off-topic-f4/best-article-of-the-month-april-t2289.htm#37961