“Snarky” has recently become a favorite word in my vocabulary. Admittedly, it is probably considered slang by most of the elite literati, but after delving into its definition and examples of its use in modern communication, I have adopted it as a perfectly descriptive idiom. It generally means critical or sarcastic in a wisecracking or cynical sort of way; impertinent, or irreverent in tone or manner. Just my kind of attitude.

One of the things I have been thinking about doing as a feature on this blog is recognizing excellence in the non-professional world of editorial comment. My focus would be on those tidbits of wisdom that employ relatively equal amounts of fact, humor and sarcasm – snarkism – in commenting on the events of the day.

Yesterday, while checking out the Billings Gazette online, I happened upon an absolute gem – and thus I am prepared to nominate the first candidate for:

Excellence in the Use of Snarkism:

DAWSON ‘RESPECTFULLY DECLINED’ MEETING GOVERNOR
By CHARLES S. JOHNSON Gazette State Bureau
HELENA – Death row inmate David Dawson turned down Gov. Brian Schweitzer’s recent request to meet with him at the prison, Schweitzer said Wednesday.

Dawson, convicted of murdering three members of a Billings family in 1986, is scheduled to be put to death by lethal injection shortly after midnight Friday.

Schweitzer said he conveyed the offer through the condemned killer’s “standby” lawyer, Ed Sheehy Jr. The attorney represents Dawson and his desire to be executed.

“As the ultimate representative of the people of Montana who’ve condemned him to death, I thought it was appropriate for me, as the face of Montana, to meet with the condemned person if he wanted,” Schweitzer said.

[The story continued, but we’ll skip to the “Comment” section.]

Can’t blame him wrote on August 10, 2006 8:08 AM
I wouldn’t want my last memory on earth to be Brian Schweitzer either. *L*

I don’t have any idea who “L” is, but I’m going to be on the lookout for more of his/her comments!

If (when!) you run into examples of great snarkism, send them to me by posting a comment on this blog. We’ll then put the best examples together for a vote for the ANNUAL SNARKY AWARD. Sounds like fun to me!