Help me help you

Actually, just help me. I have to submit an entry to the annual National Newspaper Awards -- it's pointless, I never win, etc. but the Post likes us to enter 'cause if we win it looks good on the paper. Still, when I say it's pointless, it is: you're limited to three columns to represent an entire year's worth of work. Unless, of course, I win, in which case I will graciously defer to the Solomonic wisdom of the judges.

Not that there's any danger of that. As I look over what I've written, I'm bound to say it wasn't a great year for me. My writing seems to get more pompous and self-important with each passing column. I used to be funny once in a while, and I need to get back there: strip it down, lose the attitude, cut the verbiage. Nobody owes you the three two minutes it takes to read your column, and on too many occasions I haven't made myself agreeable enough company to make it worth the reader's while.

Meantime, however, I've still got to pick those three columns, which is where you come in. I've culled the year's output to a short-list of 20 (well, 19: I've left a spot for write-in candidates). Pick three columns you think I should enter from that list, and maybe you can help end my 16-year losing streak. (Vote here. View the results so far here).

BONUS: I screwed up the html somehow and left off one column I had intended to include in the short-list. You can vote for it if you like in the comments.