Hi, folks -- welcome to the latest edition of the Top 5. As SFist is community driven, we enjoy picking out some of the best comments that you folks contributed -- the ones that raised the discussion level, taught us something we didn't know, or made us laugh.

1) First, we'd like to recognize "leftalone," who purports to work for the embattled Mr. Ed Jew, and wanted to tell us "two stories to get off [his/her] chest." Insider info, especially if we believe it sounds credible, goes straight to the top of the list. Thanks, leftalone.

2) DG's comment on the budget situation offered some very good insight.

3) We love it when the subjects of one of our stories comes onto SFist to comment. Thanks, Mr. Sugermonster! (a.k. mike sugerman). It also didn't hurt that he identified himself as "a regular reader and a fan of SFist." Flattery will get you everywhere.

4) We enjoyed Nad's tough-but-fair assessment of the state of the Chronicle these days, and hope that Phil Bronstein, the subject of the interview where the comment was left, will take note of his measured, constructive statements.

5) Finally, on the subject of the shootings in the Western Addition: many of you engaged in an excellent conversation regarding police and housing and funding. For the most part, it was a very well thought out, even-tempered, engaging discussion. We're going to cheat and proclaim the whole discussion a "Top Comment." Probably one of the best things we read last week, anywhere -- thank you sfmike, jerry jarvis, "J", Jeffrey W. Baker, tom, and everyone else that participated.

Hey, everyone -- here are the semi-arbitrary Top 5 Comments of the Week. For this, our fourth week of doing it, we thought it'd be a swell idea to try it out in easy-to-access text form. See below for commenters whom SFist's editors thought raised the game, made us laugh, or were otherwise notable, and click through to read the actual comments as written:

From "Ed Jew" and "Peter Ragone" -- while we don't normally support sockpuppeting, these comments on various Ed Jew-related stories were hilarious. Especially "Ragone's."

From (Not SFist)Jeremy, who weighed in regarding the Blue Angels and Mr. Supervisor Daly's stance on their Fleet Week shows. Agree or not with our brother in first name, we liked his clear thought and how he opted to share a personal experience. It stood out amongst rhetoric and heated debate.

Our thanks go to Adam: He left a comment we wholeheartedly agree with, propping up SFist Leanne's new "Found" feature, which this week spotlighted an old love letter.

Last but not least, good insight by Josh, who, as one of the people living in the area, had some input on the debate over the old UC Extension campus.

And, of course, check out the comments on this thread to see the entries thus far in SFist Jon's Giants tickets giveaway. And you've still got about a week to enter yourself!

Wow, are we up our THIRD Top 5 Comments of the Week Podcast already? This one is super-special, as we introduce a few sound effects. Slowly crawling into the 20th century here.

In any case, check out the podcast to find out exactly which funny, witty, and/or informative comments made by Suckafree, Seamus Furr, el Greco, Persona non Bergman, and Bikescape made the cut! Direct download here; or check out this page for a browser-based player. Only 4:47 this time around, still about 5.5 megs.

Did you miss our first two shows? Do you care? If so, check out this post and this post, respectively.