LESS CSS is cool

star.less

// rating-stars mixin
.stars(@stars:0){
  @height:19px;
  display:inline-block; // make sure it's some type of block element
  height:@height;
  width:110px;
  background-image:url(../images/star-ratings-small.png);
  background-position: 0px @stars*-@height;
  background-repeat: no-repeat;
}
.star-5{
  .stars(5);
}
.star-4{
  .stars(4);
}
.star-3{
  .stars(3);
}
.star-2{
  .stars(2);
}
.star-1{
  .stars(1);
}
.star-0{
  .stars(0);
}

usage.html

<ul>
  <li>
    Thing 1
    <span class='star-5'></span>
  </li>
  <li>
    Thing 2
    <span class='star-2'></span>
  </li>
</ul>