[rburhum]

What about two columns? One for popular and another one that peeks the top 10 new ones and keeps updating.

[csense]

I like the idea. But no need for AJAX -- having it statically load as part of the frontpage would be good too.

The main reason you want something like this is to keep meritorious articles from languishing without any votes.

[rburhum]

Doesn't have to be ajax. Can be websockets

[bloometal]

I'd go with this if I had to pick one. But having it in a new page is essentially that, right?