Spring HubNugget Review

By Wes J. Pimentel

SInce I joined Hub Pages I've wanted to know what the heck HubNuggets are and what a Hub Mob is. Then, I was alerted to the fact that one of my very own hubs was nominated to be a HubNugget. I think I get it, now. They seem to be a sort of people's choice of top hubs. Well, I'm honored. As a way to "give something back," I will be reviewing each of the HubNugget nominees in order to provide a little bit of Schwagalistic insight. I promise to be completely objective and unbiased, even though I already know "The Secret to Hub Traffic" is the best one. I will be focusing on two general areas; writing and content.

1) What would happen if we had no income tax?by issues veritas(http://hubpages.com/hub/What-would-happen-if-we-had-no-income-tax)

Writing - Although this hub is very informative, my attention on the content is rivalled by my focus on the misspellings, grammatical errors, poor sentence structure and overall lack of editing. It is frankly, an annoying read. It reads as if a person not well-versed in our language wrote it. The "ending" seems abrupt. It's as if the author simply stopped writing.

Content - Excellent. There are a lot of well-researched facts in this hub about many topics from tax law to our population and more. The proposal of ridding ourselves of the income-tax system as we know it is poignant and provocative, while the National Sales Tax solution is interesting and original.

2) The Wives of Nicolas Sarkozy by Silver Rose(http://hubpages.com/hub/The-Wives-of-Nicolas-sarkozy)

Writing - As far as grammar, spelling and sentence structure, there is nothing that draws one's attention away from the content. There isn't much in the way of originality nor interesting use of words or metaphors or anything else. This is a straight-forward article meant to inform us of exactly what it promises to deliver - the love-life of Nicolas Sarkozy.

Content - Well-researched and informative. I have absolutely no interest in the subject matter of this article, but if you like hearing about the private lives of famous people, you'll probably enjoy it.

3) How to Get Enough Protein if You’re a Vegetarian by Haigo Baigo(http://hubpages.com/hub/veggieprotein)

Writing - The term "succeed at abandoning meat for good" occurs early in the piece and telegraphs the author's position on whether one should eat meat. This, in my mind, brings the author's objectivity into question. At one point, it seemed that the author had skimped on research when he/she stated "while 'ovo' refers to milk". While this statement is patently false (ovo means egg in Latin), it seems like just a mistake, rather than a lack of research. The two examples above are not typical of the article, in general. The writing is solid throughout the piece.

Content - This is an information-based piece and delivers exactly what the author offers. Although not artful nor poetic, the content is rich and well-thought-out. For the record, I will continue to eat meat. Critters are yummy.

4) She Always Loved Happy Endings by iabecker515(http://hubpages.com/hub/She-Always-Loved-Happy-Endings)

Writing - Phenomenal. And I'm not just saying that because this author is hot. The writing on this piece is imaginative, engaging, and artisitc. Her descriptions are a treat and I really felt like I was in the setting of the story. Her affection for her mother really comes through, and I'm sure her mom shed a tear upon reading this piece. It comes to an end perfectly and one is left with a sense of satisfaction and a light smile. My thanks to the author.

Content - Although the subject matter of the piece is purely personal, the message about appreciation and gratitude comes through clearly. It brings to mind one's own blessings and makes you think hard about which parts of your life have real value.

5) The Secret to Hub Traffic by Schwag (http://hubpages.com/hub/The-Secret-to-Hub-Traffic)

Writing - Absolutely brilliant! The similies and metaphors in this piece alone are worth the read. What I enjoyed the most about this piece was the way the author's voice is so clearly heard. This man writes exactly as he speaks. Although his grammar and sentence structure take great artistic liberty, it's easy to forgive, given the end product.

Content - There really isn't that much in the way of content in this piece. The entire thing is a joke and seems like something the author just sat down and wrote in one sitting, rather than something he worked hard to lay out or researched. I guess the most important content in the piece is the description of the "hubber mindset," which I believe is covered quite well.

6) Gamma Gamma Zorba and Ben Casey by Dink96(http://hubpages.com/hub/Gamma-Gamma-Zorba-and-Ben-Casey)

Writing - Excellent. The writing in this hub is so good, I feel unworthy to review it. I feel like I'm reviewing a really wonderful documentary on the Discovery Channel, or something. The research is impeccable and the highly technical information is delivered in a very easy-to-understand way, which is an incredible feat, given that the subject matter is neurosurgery.

Content - Rich, full, informative and well-delivered. I was intrigued throughout this entire piece. Every time I had a question about something, there was a tidbit of useful info within parentheses, rescuing me from the feeling of having any of it go over my head. My thanks to the author for a wonderful read.

7) Is FaceBook Changing My Brain ? by Iphigenia(http://hubpages.com/hub/Is-FaceBook-Changing-My-Brain)

Writing - Excellent. The point is made concisely and effectively. The length of the piece seems perfect and the layout is well thought-out. There is even a smattering of fear-based propoganda that makes the piece enticing and creepy.

Content - While much of it is scientific and technical, it doesn't seem like a textbook at all. While reading this piece I felt like I was in a conversation with a very intelligent person. The ideas highlighted in this piece are intriguing and poignant. Very timely and relevant in our cyber-culture. I would recommend the hub "MyFace" as a complement to this piece.

8) Top 10 Most Expensive Cities in the World by BristolBoy(http://hubpages.com/hub/Top-10-Most-Expensive-Cities-In-The-World)

Writing - The very first paragraph of this piece is a turn-off. It seems this author has never heard of the word "which," as evidenced by this paragraph's terrible sentence structure and cumbersome wording. This is unfortunate, as the rest of the piece is, for the most part, concisely written and very straight-forward. The writing does improve marginally as the piece goes on, which I believe reveals a certain laziness during editing. It's not until city #5, Oslo, that the author finally uses the phrase "in which to live." Given the subject of the piece, I would have expected this term to be used much more frequently throughout. Instead, the author just fumbles through the conveyance of this idea using improper wording. This is a direct quote "with which this cost of living list deals with,". HubNugget indeed.

Content - Wonderful. Very informative. Although very rich in information, it is not long-winded or laborious to read. The information was enjoyable and appeals to the traveller in all of us. I really liked the survey at the end asking in which city one would prefer to live. Overall, a satisfying read.

9) How to enjoy a holiday in South East Asia with very little money

by cindyvine (http://hubpages.com/hub/How-holiday-South-East-Asia-little-money)

Writing - Wonderful writing. There were a few (and I mean very few) errors, which were easy to overlook, considering the overall success of the piece. There was a certain wit and humor throughout the piece that made it an absolute pleasure to read and that I believe very few authors would be capable of delivering. There is an intimate aspect accomplished through the author's relating of familial moments that really give this work a cozy feel. The writing is fluid and appealing and really brings you in.

Content - Absolutely bursting with substance! Between the almost 80 photographs and their descriptions, and the richness and detail of the author's narrative, one finds a varitable cornucopia of cultural information. For anyone planning a trip to the areas described, this piece would be an absolute treasure. I really appreciated the detailed captions for each of the pictures. I really felt as though I was right there, in the boats and the bars, just soaking up the local squalor and scenery. Magnificent.

10) Secrets To a Fabulous Love Life & Happy Marriage - From the Obamas by TedCharles (http://hubpages.com/hub/Obama-Love-Marriage-Secrets)

Writing - Very well-delivered. There is nothing to criticize. The writing is mostly descriptive, although not artistically or poetically so. Given the subject of the piece, and its goal, I believe the chosen mode of writing to be flawless.

Content - Very inspiring. Nicely laid out. Rich and full of hope. A wonderful message, which makes us all examine our own relationships. Thanks to the author.

Summary

So, there you have it. I read each one, all the way through and I feel like a better person for it. My pick for #1 was a toss-up. I couldn't decide between She Always Loved Happy Endings and How to enjoy a holiday in South East Asia with very little money. I would love to say that my hub was the best of the list, but that is simply not true. Frankly, I don't think it would be in my top five. If it were strictly a funniest hub contest, maybe. Anyway, after careful consideration of how I felt reading them and which offered a richer, more satisfying experience, I have to say that How to enjoy a holiday in South East Asia with very little money is, by far, the best hub on the list. It was written by cindyvine. You can find more by cindyvine here http://hubpages.com/author/cindyvine/hot/. Please vote for your favorite HubNugget nominee here http://hubpages.com/hub/Hubber-Poll-March19-2009-Batch-of-Spring-HubNuggets-Anyone.

In closing I'd just like to say that it is a real honor to be listed alongside such wonderful writers. Thank you.