OK, it is admittedly a narcissistic affair.

But everybody's doin' it (even the FBI).

That, in itself, is a poor excuse.

How about this one instead: We haven't done this before, at least not in this manner.

If you're confused by the aforementioned vagaries, let us clarify.

This article represents a compilation of the most-compelling cover stories published by Weekly Surge in 2010, as selected by that shadowy gatekeeper known as The Editor.

While it may appear that we're simply looking to toot our own horns, what we really want is for you, the reader, to heap volumes of praise upon us because we suffer from low self-esteem and even lower bank ledgers.

But seriously, you can weigh in after reading the following compilation and vote on your favorite Surge cover story represented here.

If there was a cover story you really liked published in 2010 that didn't make the cut - tough noogies, life is not fair.

And the rules are simple: Peruse these synopses of Weekly Surge 2010 cover stories, then Click here to cast your vote for your favorite.

Voting kicks off today and runs through Jan. 27, and the results will be published Feb. 3.

And voting is limited to once per hour - but you can vote multiple times for multiple stories.

Without further ado, here are the candidates.

Myrtle Beach's Minister of Music laid to rest

Originally published

Jan. 28

By Paul Grimshaw

A posthumous portrait of a man who meant so much to music lovers in the Myrtle Beach area, he was dubbed The Minister of Music. Jeff Roberts passed away unexpectedly in early January, leaving friends and family utterly shocked, but his life was celebrated - not only at his memorial service but via Surge's printed memorial to the gentle giant.

Roberts had been struggling with his health, on and off, for a couple of years and his suspected cause of death was from a pulmonary thrombosis, a blood clot. Never one to complain, almost no one knew he had been in the hospital for a routine procedure. His legacy is tied to his family and his love of music, and he will be missed by the many, many friends he made in Myrtle Beach, Nashville, Tenn., Athens, Ga., and anywhere a good song might be playing.

To read the full article, go to www.thesunnews.com/2010/01/28/1284057/myrtle-beachs-minister-of-music.html.

CCU squad channels the rugby spirit

Originally published

Feb. 18

By Ian Guerin

Rugby isn't the national past time. It's not very popular in the States at all when compared to baseball, football and, yes - in many regards - even soccer. The first time many locals heard anything about Coastal Carolina University's rugby team - now in its seventh year - was when the university issued a five-graph news release in May stating the team had been suspended for a violation of the school's alcohol policy. The school allowed the team to finish out the 2009 spring season, essentially post-dating the suspension until after the school year (the team was placed on probation for that season) and there was nary a mention of the suspension when the school announced the team had captured the National championship. After some digging and questioning by Weekly Surge which had learned of a possible suspension, a press release was issued May 28 to local media announcing that the rugby club had been suspended "for violation of the University's alcohol policy." Using those ticked off feelings stemming from the eventual suspension as fuel, the players started pounding opponents.

To read the full article, go to www.thesunnews.com/2010/02/18/1321218/ccu-squad-channels-the-rugby-spirit.html.

From Jersey Shore to Myrtle Shore

Originally published

April 1

By Terry Massey

Playing off of the news that MTV reality show "Jersey Shore" was abandoning the Jersey Shore for its second season - coupled with a local appearance by cast member J-Woww which we photographed for the cover - Surge, somewhat straight-faced, attempted to pull the April Fool's wool over everyone's eyes and claim that "Jersey Shore" was setting up shop on our shore. But if you read it closely, we gave clues by spelling out A-P-R-I-L F-O-O-L-S in the article, and gave the gag away at the very end.

C'mon, admit it, we fooled ya'.

To read the full article, go to www.thesunnews.com/2010/04/01/1397511/blow-outs-fist-pumps-coming-south.html.

Local agencies break down stigmas of rape & sexual assault

Originally published

April 22

By Kimberly Moore

Jesse Nevins is a survivor. A bright, enigmatic 27-year-old Art History major at Coastal Carolina University, Nevins moved to the Grand Strand eight years ago from the small town of Walton, N.Y. Pretty, perky and popular, Nevins is your typical college student, juggling school and work while still trying to make time for a social life. Her warm heart and outgoing manner are tempered with caution: Five years ago, Nevins was the victim of date rape. She's part of a grim statistic - according to the National Institute of Justice and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, more than 17.7 million of the U.S.'s female population have been the victims of sexual assault. April was designated as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and locally as well as throughout the country, lectures, presentations, and rallies were being held in community centers and on college campuses. Rape and sexual assault are issues that cross age, race, gender and sexual orientation, and men and women need to be aware of not only how to protect themselves, but also how to stop the terrible trauma of rape from occurring.

To read the full article, go to www.thesunnews.com/2010/04/22/1434208/taking-back-the-night.html.

Can underdog candidate pull off bid to be S.C. Governor?

Originally published

June 3

By Christina Knauss

A profile of S.C. Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, who strode into a fundraiser at Kono Japanese Steak House in Myrtle Beach on May 27, dressed impeccably in a pinstripe suit. It was 12 days before the Republican primary in the race for South Carolina governor. He was running last of four candidates in recent Rasmussen polls, behind Rep. Nikki Haley (R-Lexington), state Attorney General Henry McMaster, and Congressman Gresham Barrett. Days before, the candidate was not fazed in the least about being last. Other candidates might get weak in the knees at the challenges ahead. For Bauer, running as an underdog is just the type of campaign he likes.

To read the full article, go to www.thesunnews.com/2010/06/03/1508877/the-comeback-kid.html.

Knight Moves, Right Moves

Originally published

June 10

By Rebecca S. Homitz/Robertson

Amid the dying debris of a once vital area called Fantasy Harbour, a gray stone castle stands erect, its flags raised and waving victoriously. While retail developments, theme parks, and theaters have succumbed to a black plague of development horrors facing this area in Myrtle Beach, Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament has stood triumphant. For 15 years, this dinner and tournament attraction themed around the Spanish Middle Ages has called the castle home, with its first public performance taking place on June 12, 1995. Erected during a building boom in the 1990s and slated to be one of the proposed 20 theaters that were supposed to populate the area, Medieval Times has remained a survivor. But with a faltering economy and hefty ticket price ($48.95 regular adult admission), how has this attraction lasted while so many others have faded into ancient history?

To read the full article, go to www.thesunnews.com/2010/06/10/1522701/knight-moves-right-moves.html.

Blue Gold: Almost extinct brew rises from the ashes

Originally published

July 15

By Colin Burch

Pabst Blue Ribbon - or PBR - the inexpensive, union-made, 166-year-old working-man's beer is exploding in the market place, and it's receiving an all-American helping hand from avid college students and nostalgia junkies who have contributed to PBR becoming one of the Top 20 beers in the United States. The growth is even more explosive on the Grand Stand as we learned that local distributor Yahnis' sales of PBR were up 155 percent year-to-date.

To read the full article, go to www.thesunnews.com/2010/07/15/1585839/blue-gold.html.

How three local dudes spun internet gold from bad fashion choices

Originally published

July 22

By Aliana Ramos

Across the country under the ultra bright fluorescent lightning and cavernous, ubiquitous structures known as Wal-Mart, people are committing extreme fashion faux-pax and their exploits are featured on peopleofwalmart.com, a sort of "Candid Camera" for the digital age. And you can thank three Myrtle Beach area 20-somethings for the jaw-dropping, gag-inducing and laugh-out-loud funny images of everything from butt cleavage, flesh fanny packs to pirates and a goat-pulling scooter. Brothers Adam Kipple and Andrew Kipple and their childhood friend Luke Wherry launched peopleofwalmart.com in August 2009 as a joke and it has turned into an Internet phenomenon.

To read the full article, go to www.thesunnews.com/2010/07/22/1596745cover-story.html.

Working-Mann's Deadhead: Local deejay's tale of survival

Originally published

Aug. 5

By Roger Yale

An in-depth Q-and-A with WAVE 104 deejay/personality/self-professed hippie Scott Mann, who in March 2009, began a long, strange trip when he was diagnosed with stage II (later stage III) colorectal cancer, an event that nobody, least of all Mann, saw coming - and one that sent ripples of shock and disbelief throughout the community. After a one-year battle, which included the requisite surgeries, chemo and radiation therapies, Mann was declared cancer-free on March 18. But there is much more to the story. Although he went public about his experience on-air and in the realm of social media, he agreed to sit down with Weekly Surge to raise awareness about colorectal cancer, and while we were at it, we thought we'd find out a lot more about the seemingly enigmatic Mann himself.

To read the full article, go to www.thesunnews.com/2010/08/05/1619847/working-manns-deadhead-local-deejays.html.

Legalize It? Mum's the word when it comes to Palmetto State pot reform

Originally published

Aug. 12

By Amber Pridgen

So what role is South Carolina taking in the fight for marijuana reform? Are we following in the tilled steps of our western revolutionaries by lobbying for the legalization of medical marijuana? The truth is, y'all, we haven't even looked at a piece of ground to plant an idea on. And in an election year, we couldn't get many politicians to even talk about it.

To read the full article, go to www.thesunnews.com/2010/08/12/1631861/cover-story.html.

The Adventures of Super Steve and Rockin' Robin

Originally published

Oct. 21

By Kent Kimes and Emil Koepcke

With Myrtle Beach's third annual X-Con World, a comic book, sci-fi, fantasy convention as the backdrop, we envisioned the con's two creators, Steve Haines of Corsair Comics, and Robin Roberts, of Palmetto Studios, as superheroes - and created an original 3-page comic strip (and cover mimicking classic comic books) depicting "The Adventures of Super Steve and Rockin' Robin." The package also featured a Q-and-A with Haines and Roberts and details on the convention.

To read the full article, go to www.thesunnews.com/2010/10/21/1764291/inside-the-minds-of-x-cons-dynamic.html.