Orac is the nom de blog of a (not so) humble pseudonymous surgeon/scientist with an ego just big enough to delude himself that someone, somewhere might actually give a rodent's posterior about his miscellaneous verbal meanderings, but just barely small enough to admit to himself that few will. (Continued 
With 2009 now safely in the history books, it's time to look back on the year and "honor" some of the most egregious offenders against science and reason. Fortunately for us, Skeptico has presented his second annual Golden Woo Awards.
I was disappointed to see yet again that surgeon who has led me time and time again to want to put a paper bag over my head or even forge a Doctor Doom mask to hide my face in the shame that he brings upon the honorable profession of surgery. Yes, I'm talking about everybody's favorite creationist neurosurgeon, Dr. Michael Egnor, who, through the principle of crank magnetism and the "vindication of all kooks" principle, has now revealed himself to be an anthropogenic global warming denialist as well--and not just an AGW denialist, but a particularly dim AGW denialist.
I also like that our old friend Bill Maher figured prominently.
Comments
Thanks for the plug.
I wonder if Egnor will write another post claiming his award, like he did last year.
Posted by: Skeptico | January 7, 2010 1:05 AM
Interesting read.
I'd like to nominate an extra category, the brickhead.
The brickhead should go to the person or group who most steadfastly ignore reality even after having their nose rubbed in it. Oh, except you'd probably have to give one each to Egnor, Chopra, D'Souza and Maher.
Posted by: DLC
| January 7, 2010 8:28 AM
Brickhead award?
I nominate Dr. Jay and Sid Offit (AKA Stone Deaf Sid)!
Posted by: T. Bruce McNeely | January 7, 2010 9:31 AM
I'd nominate Brian Deer for lying about Wakefield's study. Now that's spreading some "woo."
Posted by: jen | January 7, 2010 11:50 AM
@jen
Yes, saying that Brian Deer lied about Wakefield's study is spreading woo. I suppose you have evidence to back up your claim?
Posted by: Todd W. | January 7, 2010 11:56 AM
@jen
Let me be a bit more clear than my last post. What, specifically, did Brian Deer say or write that was a lie about Wakefield's study? Please provide evidence to support your answer.
Posted by: Todd W. | January 7, 2010 12:00 PM
jen, what do you have to say about Dr. Chadwick's testimony that showed that Wakefield ignored false positives. Read it here: ftp://autism.uscfc.uscourts.gov/autism/cedillo/transcripts/day10.pdf
Was that woo? Or just a little bit of annoyance you like sweeping under the rug?
Posted by: Chris | January 7, 2010 12:09 PM
In jen's world the sun shines out of Wakefield's ass, so any criticism of Wakefield, no matter how well supported by evidence must be a lie. The antivaxxers are no better than the biblical literalists.
Posted by: Militant Agnostic | January 7, 2010 12:09 PM
Very good, but how is there not a Ray Comfort award?
Posted by: Wayward son | January 7, 2010 1:08 PM
Bill Maher was on QTV two days before Christmas (Youtube lXRPPbCQW0c). Not only had he not tempered his vaccine nonsense one iota, he was even more adamant that he was right and that the "internet people" were just "making things up" about him. He mentioned Jello again. Surprisingly, the host ate it up. Was that covered here?
Posted by: James | January 7, 2010 4:44 PM
C'mon, there's no such thing as "woo." After all, Wikipedia says so! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woo-woo
Posted by: Kevin Bjorke | January 8, 2010 11:15 PM
But, Kevin, it is in this dictionary!
Posted by: Chris | January 8, 2010 11:40 PM