…and this is a 
People, you aren't doing your part. Yesterday, I had an almost 600 vote lead over the star-gazing bone-bag; this morning, it has narrowed rapidly to little more than 200. At this rate, he's going to catch up and pass me today, and then the suppression of the majority invertebrates will continue to be perpetuated by this wicked chordatecentric minority. Vote, vote, vote!
How is he accomplishing these gains? There's the kitten factor, of course: by laying on the cute, he mobilizes the shallow masses who like superficial, pretty fluff (not my constituency, obviously). In his latest missive, he also engages in most egregious flattery.
I also know I have the most honest, wonderful, and — let's face it — best-looking readers in the observable Universe (and that includes the depths of the ocean), so I know you'll help out in this time of need.
Consider the flip side of that comment, though: he has also called you readers and supporters of Pharyngula dishonest, horrible, and ugly. How can you vote for someone who abuses you all so? Don't you want to see him crushed?
Another factor is that he seems to be mobilizing his minions, asking them to display a truly hideous banner and urging their readers to vote for his blog. Well, two can play that game. Here are some tasteful banners/badges featuring Iridoteuthis or Wonderpus you can put on your blog if you voted for Pharyngula: use them freely, and tell all your friends to join in.
Copy and paste this code into your website for the small badge:
<div style="width:90; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2006.weblogawards.org/2006/12/best_science_blog.php"><img alt="pharyngula badge" title="Vote for Pharyngula in the Weblog Awards" src="http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/upload/2006/12/pharyngula_rules.jpg" width="88" height="33" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 10px"><a href="http://2006.weblogawards.org/2006/12/best_science_blog.php">Vote</a> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/">Pharyngula</a>!</span></div>
Copy and paste this code into your website for the larger banner:
<div style="width:290; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2006.weblogawards.org/2006/12/best_science_blog.php"><img alt="pharyngula banner" title="Vote for Pharyngula in the Weblog Awards" src="http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/upload/2006/12/pharyngula_rules_lg.jpg" width="280" height="72" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 14px"><a href="http://2006.weblogawards.org/2006/12/best_science_blog.php">Vote</a> for <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/">Pharyngula</a>!</span></div>If you prefer, you can use the compelling hypnotic power of the Wonderpus to force your readers to vote for me. Obey the Wonderpus!
<div style="width:290; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2006.weblogawards.org/2006/12/best_science_blog.php"><img alt="hypno_pharyngula.jpg" src="http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/upload/2006/12/hypno_pharyngula.jpg" width="300" height="80" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 14px"><a href="http://2006.weblogawards.org/2006/12/best_science_blog.php">Vote</a> for <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/">Pharyngula</a>!</span></div>Vote for Pharyngula (and remember, you can vote every day!). Unless you like ugly banners and being insulted.
P.S. Oh, yeah, and vote for Anyone But Althouse in the Best Centrist Blog category. I'm pushing for The Moderate Voice.
Comments
Posted by: Mark UK | December 12, 2006 2:09 PM
From one of the posters at
Sciguy.com (which I like) comes this opinion: (made me laugh anyway)
ttyler5: "If you visit pharyngula..."
No thanks. I find it difficult to read the musings of a bollix brained demagogic self proclaimed daemon and demigod.
For that type of nonsense, there are others far more brilliant and much more interesting than Meyers, who for all practical purposes is little more than a human parasite sucking the high purpose and reason, out of the Academy. Who is clearly surrounding himself with a bizarre and addled minded cult of personality.
With that said, perhaps in time, I'll be able to loosen up a bit more and be better able to more fully express my true contempt for those more like Meyers, and his ilk...
Check back with me later ;-)
http://blogs.chron.com/sciguy/archives/2006/12/do_you_like_thi.html#c327525
Posted by: PZ Myers | December 12, 2006 2:20 PM
Wow. Daemon and demigod, huh? A site that draws insane commenters like that tempts me to cast one of my daily votes for it...
Posted by: Mark UK | December 12, 2006 2:27 PM
There are some interesting commenters regarding religion there if you ever feel the need to punish yourself! The site itself is an interesting general science blog. Like a good pub with some interesting regulars...
Anyway, being both a demigod and a human parasite is an interesting career move.
Posted by: Phil Plait | December 12, 2006 2:39 PM
"Consider the flip side of that comment, though: he has also called you readers and supporters of Pharyngula dishonest, horrible, and ugly."
That is a ridiculous distortion of reality. In truth, many people here read my blog as well.
Posted by: Bronze Dog | December 12, 2006 2:44 PM
If you can't see the beauty in tentacles, there's just something perversely wrong with you.
Posted by: Scott Hatfield | December 12, 2006 2:45 PM
PZ: What a pity you never had a chance to work for the Daley machine in it's heyday...SH
Posted by: PZ Myers | December 12, 2006 3:09 PM
Yeah, the ugly ones. We're onto you now, Phil.
Posted by: Magnus | December 12, 2006 3:25 PM
I object!! I'm not ugly and I don't read Bad Astronomy Blog on a regular basis. Only when PZ links to it. So there!!
Posted by: Russell | December 12, 2006 3:55 PM
I'm waiting for reason #14: the fifth of Laphroiag delivered to my door. Yes, my vote can be bought. Here are the easy directions:
http://www.bevmo.com/productinfo.asp?area=home&seref=froogle&pf_id=00000072627
Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas.
Posted by: Kyra | December 12, 2006 4:41 PM
Ooookay, here's where I come off as a superficial person who likes the pretty fluff:
That octopus graphic on the third banner = lovely.
Oh, wait, you said something about the hypnotic power of the wonderpus. Cancel the superficial pretty-fluff part of the comment.
Must . . . make . . . lovely . . . octopus . . . happy . . .
Posted by: Inoculated Mind | December 12, 2006 6:28 PM
http://www.inoculatedmind.com/?p=126
I voted for you. Twice. But the trouble is...
Posted by: IdiotSwede | December 12, 2006 6:29 PM
How do I center these banners on my webpage?
Posted by: Ichthyic | December 12, 2006 11:12 PM
Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas.
BLASPHEMER!
You of course meant:
Merry Cephalopodamus
riiiigggghhhhtttt?
Posted by: Caprworld | December 13, 2006 7:14 AM
That's my third vote in three days.
WE WILL CRUSH THE VERTIBRATE SCUM!!!11!
Posted by: Tessa | December 15, 2006 1:39 PM
You've got my vote, PZ (several times over, in fact). (And I'm totally putting that third banner on my blog - sooo... pretty... must... obey!) A Merry Cephalopodmas to all, and to the non-Pharyngulites, a crushing defeat!