…and this is a 
No, not that kind of host. Our scheduled host for the Tangled Bank had to back out due to time constraints. If anyone wants to volunteer to host it next Wednesday, let me know and I'll forward the entries to you.
Also, who should get a Molly award for the month of July? Mention your choice(s) and reasoning in the comments here. I'll tally 'em up at the end of this weekend.
Tangled Bank hosting is taken care of: the first volunteer was PalMD of the denialism blog. Start mailing those links in!
Comments
Posted by: Nick Gotts | July 30, 2008 6:45 PM
Owlmirror for Molly - for the lolcatz version of Crackergate - which I hope to see completed.
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp | July 30, 2008 6:45 PM
Moses. Moses. Moses.
Posted by: oaksterdam | July 30, 2008 6:45 PM
SC
Patricia
greasemonkey killfile
Posted by: Wowbagger | July 30, 2008 6:47 PM
Damian (with an 'a') and Owlmirror - both great during the cracker frenzy.
Posted by: PalMD | July 30, 2008 6:49 PM
I can do it as I'll be off work for a week. let me know
Posted by: Bee | July 30, 2008 6:51 PM
'Nother set of votes for SC and Owlmirror.
Posted by: Spaulding | July 30, 2008 6:52 PM
Michael Edmondson, of "Beware the Believers" fame, unless that's stretching the rules too much.
Posted by: truth machine, OM | July 30, 2008 6:52 PM
1) Owlmirror
2) Damian (with an 'a')
3) SC
Posted by: IBY | July 30, 2008 6:53 PM
Fr. J for his rather entertaining comments :)
Just kidding, I think Owlmirror will do.
Posted by: CJO | July 30, 2008 6:53 PM
oaksterdam @ #3,
Are you suggesting we give a Molly to a string of code?
I like it.
are you in oaksterdam? I live close to there.
If we're not giving it to a string of code, then I second the nomination of Moses.
Posted by: E.V. | July 30, 2008 6:55 PM
So many distinguished themselves within the hundreds of Crackergate threads.
Owlmirror, Moses, Patricia and SC were awesome.
Not to slight the others but Moses and Owlmirror are the standouts in my humble opinion. (-love you as well, Ms. B. Dickus)
Posted by: JoJo | July 30, 2008 6:56 PM
Another vote for Owlmirror.
Posted by: Sastra | July 30, 2008 6:56 PM
Owlmirror is a good choice, I'm glad he's been suggested.
Once again I vote Dave W for general excellence, and for arguing cogently and civilly against an angry room of Pharyngulites that Cook's original act wasn't really quite the thing, morally. Agree or not (which I did), he made a reasonable case.
Also Nick Gotts, because I vaguely seem to recall him being particularly good in several threads, recently, in some place or other. At least, I remember thinking "O, a Molly for you, my good man."
Posted by: E.V. | July 30, 2008 7:00 PM
Damn, I forgot Dave W and Nick Gotts. So many valiant posters.
Posted by: Sven DiMilo | July 30, 2008 7:06 PM
Yeah, I was going to suggest Owlmirror, and it would have been the first comment of the thread, but then I couldn't remember a reason. So I didn't. Yet now I have.
No particular reason.
Posted by: oaksterdam | July 30, 2008 7:07 PM
CJO #10
Piedmont-ish. Overlooking Glen Echo creek.
Anyone else just see Rachel Maddow rip into Pat Buchannon?
Posted by: Stark | July 30, 2008 7:09 PM
Owlmirror for the CrackeGate work...
and BrokenSoldier.
For his humanity, politeness, and unwaveringly good attitude in
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2008/07/looking_for_a_journalist_willi.php Unfortunately his story seems to have gotten drowned out by Catholic nuttiness but I still think the courage and humnanity he showed deserves some recognition.
Posted by: Ghost of Minnesota | July 30, 2008 7:14 PM
If you're still looking for a Tangled Bank host, I'd be thrilled and honored to do it. I'd need the submissions in my mailbox by Friday, though, so I can get it done over the weekend. Come Monday, there's no way I'm going to have time to do any blogging until at least next Friday.
Posted by: Helioprogenus | July 30, 2008 7:21 PM
Chalk another Owl Mirror, Damian, SC and Patricia, in no particular order.
Also, Dutch delight for disagreeing with my polemic statements.
I would like to add all the gun control advocates who never really used a handgun to give me a different perspective on things, but there are too many to name. Sarcasm aside, it's too bad you people make a rational and sound argument. Perhaps under different circumstances, I would embrace it, but I also know how important one's rights are to protect family, self, and personal property. Let it be known that in a perfect world, we'd only have tranquilizer darts to shoot each other with (ooooh, can you imagine the fun that would cause?). Of course, Donohue would probably be in a perpetual coma because of the all the tranquilizers, but then again, parts of his brain seem to be enjoying comatose status.
Posted by: The Chemist | July 30, 2008 7:24 PM
I vote against whoever is strongly favored for an OM, just because I feel like rooting for the underdog.
Posted by: Paul W. | July 30, 2008 7:25 PM
Dave W.? or Paul W.?
(There is a Dave W., but I suspect some people mean Paul W.; Dave wasn't very active in the mentioned stuff.)
Posted by: 386sx | July 30, 2008 7:27 PM
I would like to nominate Mrs Tilton. Thank you very much.
Posted by: Hap | July 30, 2008 7:27 PM
#17: bS already has one, fortunately. I didn't miss the post about him, but I didn't know any journalists. Mike Royko would have been good, but he died a few years ago (he had articles in the early to mid-70's about a black Vietnam vet who lost his face to a mine or rocket and was denied reconstructive surgery until it became public and the VA realized how evil they looked).
Posted by: maxi | July 30, 2008 7:30 PM
I think it's high-time moses got a Molly. Mentions also to Glen D and Nick Gotts, all for consistenty brilliant, erudite and intelligent posts.
Posted by: Michael X | July 30, 2008 7:32 PM
You're telling me that Owlmirror doesn't have a Molly yet? This needs to be fixed pronto. And has AJ Milne gotten one yet? Another deserving poster.
Posted by: Calladus | July 30, 2008 7:34 PM
When you said you were "looking for a host", I immediately thought "parasite".
It took me minutes to realize you might actually mean a Eucharist.
Then I realized that my first guess still works.
Posted by: Sastra, OM | July 30, 2008 7:34 PM
Paul W #21 wrote:
Arggh, I meant PAUL W. Of course. You. Paul. Same as last month. And till you drop off or get Mollied, probably with boring regularity.
I thought there was something I wrote there that didn't look quite right. But I try not to trust my instincts.
Posted by: Dahan | July 30, 2008 7:35 PM
Nick Gotts gets my nod for the OM.
Posted by: 386sx | July 30, 2008 7:41 PM
It just dawns on me the clever symbolism with sticking the rusty nail into the holy wafer thingy. I can be a little slow at times. Duh!
Posted by: Mark B. from Austin TX | July 30, 2008 7:44 PM
I'm gonna be a jerk and suggest Melanie Kroll (and her stupid husband). She only commented once or twice, but she had a big impact. On herself. D'oh!!
Posted by: SC | July 30, 2008 7:44 PM
Nick Gotts, again
Owlmirror
(with the intention of posting a long list later of people whose comments I've enjoyed this month, just to say thanks)
Posted by: Sanen Azok | July 30, 2008 7:45 PM
Hey cool a Molly award. Can I get it from you (steal it from somewhere) so I can desecrate it to get attention?
Posted by: Sastra, OM | July 30, 2008 7:56 PM
Sanen Azok #32 wrote:
No. If you can figure out how to steal and desecrate the Molly Award, you automatically earn it, with honors.
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp | July 30, 2008 7:58 PM
And even then we wouldn't pee our collective diapers over it.
Posted by: Ghost of Minnesota | July 30, 2008 8:02 PM
Damn. Wasn't fast enough to get the Tangled Bank this time. Can I be added to the list anyway?
Posted by: 386sx | July 30, 2008 8:04 PM
No. If you can figure out how to steal and desecrate the Molly Award, you automatically earn it, with honors.
The only way I can figure would be if PZ Myers won the Molly award himself. That's the only thing I can figure.
Everybody nominate PZ Myers please, and then that will desecrate the Molly award. I'm serious people!! Thank you.
Posted by: nominatePZmyers (='.'=) 386sx | July 30, 2008 8:06 PM
Everybody nominate PZ Myers so we can all desecrate the Molly award, I mean it!!
I nominate PZ Myers.
Posted by: CrypticLife | July 30, 2008 8:08 PM
"And even then we wouldn't pee our collective diapers over it."
I would. I'm all for as much desecration as possible, and if all I have to desecrate is a diaper, so be it.
Posted by: Benjamin Franklin | July 30, 2008 8:09 PM
I would like to pass on the nomination of Benjamin Franklin by David Marjanović, OM, in abstentia. David is away digging up trilobytes.
Posted by: John Morales | July 30, 2008 8:12 PM
Owlmirror.
There're other meritorious candidates, but I don't want to dilute my vote! ;)
Posted by: Benjamin Franklin | July 30, 2008 8:15 PM
David Marjanovic, OM, also suggested that I nominate myself.
Towards that end,
I nominate Benjamin Franklin-
Qualifications:
Frequent Contributor
Several dozens (hundreds?) of posts this month, even being away on vacation for a week.
Veteran
Months of solid posting
Positive attitudeNow Paul at the Blog is friend of mine,
He lets blog here for free,
I'm quick with the joke, or to light up your smoke,
and there's nowhere that I'd rather be.
Agrees with the almost all of the Pharyngula message.
Not a spelling or grammar nazi, but does try to correct incorrect or misconstrued quotes, facts, logic, or reality (well, my reality, of course).
Tries to present posts with biting satire, interesting aspects, differing viewpoints, and arcane, aged & dated, but revered references to cultural icons and trivia.
Appreciative of solid, well reasoned, & well presented posts, and acknowledge the posters of such good work.
Doesn't overfeed the trolls, but can also go head to head with the best of 'em.
Usually produces a laugh, smile, groan, or new thought.
Supporter of local events - I attended, hoisted beers, and thoroughly enjoyed being with PZ & Pharyngulites at the Atlanta Pharyngulafest.
I admit when I make mistakes, or have been shown to be wrong.
Keeps sexual harassment to the barest minimum, while keeping sexual entendres to a growing, pulsing, climax producing an ejaculation of mirth, if you know what I mean. (I never said they were always subtle.)
If installed in the Order of the Molly, I promise not to skip out to obsessive pursue other interests. (Etha Williams, are you listening? Your voice is needed here.)
Offers a different persective - As I have stated previously in this blog, I am not an atheist. I'm still working on a better name for it, but I prefer Einstein's concept of Deistic Spinozaism. I reject all religions as unproven superstition, but I do not, and can not reject the vast wondrous and to us yet, miraculous unknown nature of the reality in which we exist.
So if I don't get proposed for induction into the Order of the Molly, I know that it is only the bigoted hatred of all you godless atheists out there, it's just like you want to burn a cross in my yard, or paint swastikas on my house, or wrap my children in bacon, or take the hamburgers off my barbeque, or other vile deeds.
Do the right thing, nominate Benjamin Franklin for a Molly.
Posted by: speedwell | July 30, 2008 8:15 PM
BrokenSoldier. And Owlmirror. And... yeah! PeeZed to the Myers! Haha...
Posted by: Feynmaniac | July 30, 2008 8:16 PM
I'll join the chorus and vote for Owlmirror for his/her epic tragicomedy "WAFERGATE OR CEILING CATLOLIC IS WATCHING YOU MASTICATE" .
Has anyone ever won a Molly for writing a play in the comments before?
Posted by: Dustin, OM | July 30, 2008 8:17 PM
Melanie Kroll
Posted by: Paul W. | July 30, 2008 8:19 PM
BrokenSoldier, Mrs. Tilton, Glen Davidson already have Mollies.
For reference, the full list of Mollies is here:
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/molly.php (or click on commenters in the header bar).
I'd be plenty happy with me (Paul W.), SC, Moses, frog, Owlmirror, Nick Gotts, and Damian, in no particular order except me first. :-)
Strange month. So many good (and persistent) posters that it's hard to pay enough quality attention to all those threads to be fair. I can think of another half-dozen likelies, but must stop.
Special personal thanks to frog, negentropyeater, and Moses for making me personally think harder about some particular stuff. (I'd similarly thank Truth Machine on one point, but fuck it, the info/abuse ratio wasn't high enough.)
Posted by: John Morales | July 30, 2008 8:20 PM
BJ shows outstanding modesty and honesty, too.
Posted by: Bride of Shrek OM | July 30, 2008 8:25 PM
I'd really like to see Owlmirror win this months Molly. Almost everytime he/she comments I'm nodding to myself thinking "Yeah, that's a point I hadn't though of". He/she has the intelligent lateral thinking thing down pat and I love that- it challenges you.
I'd also like to nominate Patricia for witty commnents and for fighting the good fight against the ever incoming tide of trolls. She goes for the jugular, skewers and shows no mercy... And she's a fellow member of the elite group of women commenters here (and Clinteas- honorary man-slut) who have reclaimed the term "slut" after that stupid cow in the "Dear Sir/Madam" thread tried to nick it off us. Sluts unite!!
Posted by: Kobra | July 30, 2008 8:29 PM
I can't be bothered to look up the name right now, but the person who did the I CAN HAS JEEBUS CRACKER? thing gets my vote.
Posted by: Ichthyic | July 30, 2008 8:31 PM
Upon reflection, I give a hoot.
Posted by: Greg Laden | July 30, 2008 8:31 PM
This month it should be PZ Myers.
Posted by: Ric | July 30, 2008 8:36 PM
Owlmirror gets my vote.
Posted by: Ichthyic | July 30, 2008 8:36 PM
This month it should be PZ Myers.
i rather think all of us should get together and send him a pair of fire-proof long-johns, frankly.
http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/productselection.asp?Product=2111
I'd be happy to kick in a fiver for that.
maybe we could even get a squid silk-screened onto it?
Posted by: 386sx | July 30, 2008 8:37 PM
This month it should be PZ Myers.
Posted by: Greg Laden | July 30, 2008 8:31 PM
Yes it should because that would desecrate the Molly award. Perfect.
Ecverybody desecrate the Molly award by nominating PZ Myers.
Posted by: BobC | July 30, 2008 8:39 PM
Owlmirror for his WEBSTER COOK: FEETS DON'T FAIL ME NOW
Posted by: truth machine, OM | July 30, 2008 8:41 PM
This month it should be PZ Myers.
The King doesn't need to be knighted.
Posted by: truth machine, OM | July 30, 2008 8:43 PM
I'd similarly thank Truth Machine on one point, but fuck it, the info/abuse ratio wasn't high enough.
Nice innuendo, but you richly deserved what you got.
Posted by: Benjamin Franklin | July 30, 2008 8:43 PM
OK, you forced me to do this-
Benjamin Franklin = wookerist
(+)
also here's a sampling of the ChristOCracker saga
New ChristOCrackers - They're Desecratingly delicious!
ChristOCrackers - Desecratingly Delicious
now in 3 great flavors
Wintergreen,
Spearmint,
and Doublemint - get the most from your host
ChristOCrackers - Like no other cracker on Earth
New ChristOCracker Minis - for that baby Jesus taste
Announcing - ChristESSENCE Table Wafers - Baked in the Spirit
ChristESSENCE Table Wafers - "It's good for the soul!"
now fortified with iron!
new, low calorie ChristOCrackers Lite table wafers-
"Tastes Great!"
"Less God-Filling!"
ChristOCrackers - They're not just for breakfast anymore!
ChristOCrackers - It's all a perfect body needs for perfection.
ChristOCrackers - Without 'em, you don't stand a Holy Ghost of a chance!
ChristOCrackers - Now fortified with irony
ChristOCrackers - The Perfect cracker with Rusty Nails
ChristOCrackers - Available in red, or blue, it's your choice.
ChristOCrackers - The perfected cracker for any occasion.
New 'Texas Style' ChristOCrackers - guaranteed to be not over 6,000 years old.
ChristOCrackers - Better than a Molly nomination? ... NO WAY!
...
..
.
Posted by: truth machine, OM | July 30, 2008 8:53 PM
Agree or not (which I did), he made a reasonable case.
If intellectually dishonest = reasonable.
Posted by: truth machine, OM | July 30, 2008 9:00 PM
Some month when there's no standout like Owlmirror, Glen D ought to get one for his numerous rational erudite contributions.
Posted by: Ichthyic | July 30, 2008 9:03 PM
Glen's covered. IIRC, he got one the month after you did.
Posted by: Nerd of Redhead | July 30, 2008 9:09 PM
All the above mentioned candidates are Molly material. I salute you all.
Given the whole crackergate brouhaha, and the sheer number of posts by the whole gang, it would seem fitting that an honorary Molly, just mentioning the facts with no names listed, be given to all those who helped to fend off the hordes of offended Catholics. This is not likely to be a regular occurrence.
Posted by: JeffreyD | July 30, 2008 9:11 PM
Oh, had to come back for this, not to be missed.
SC - Wowbagger - Moses - any and all of which would be delightful.
Ciao
Posted by: Kel | July 30, 2008 9:17 PM
Wowbagger is always here putting in a consistent effort.
Posted by: SC | July 30, 2008 9:19 PM
JeffreyD - Is everything OK?
Posted by: Kit | July 30, 2008 9:21 PM
Have to nominate Owlmirror, if a lurker's say is worth anything. I was linked here awhile back through fstdt.com and have been following Crackergate ever since, but nothing's made me laugh as hard as seeing the whole messy business lolcat'ized.
(I'm enjoying the actual science a great deal, too. New addition to my bookmarks!)
Posted by: JeffreyD | July 30, 2008 9:27 PM
SC at #64, come visit, not as awful as usual. (smile)
Posted by: bybelknap, FCD | July 30, 2008 9:28 PM
Owlmirror for the LOLCAT summary. Now if he can manage a LOLCAT summarizing of Proust - that would be something to inspire awe.
Posted by: Pierce R. Butler | July 30, 2008 9:29 PM
During the heat of cracker combat, Nick Gotts on multiple occasions made a lot of sense in relatively few words.
Posted by: SC | July 30, 2008 9:31 PM
JeffreyD,
I'm so relieved to hear it. And that's wonderful news at the end. All the best, dear man.
SC
Posted by: Paul W. | July 30, 2008 9:42 PM
Maybe. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that you picked up on the "innuendo" part, but missed the grudging admission part. Not enough, I guess.
If you want to continue our little bar brawl, I suggest we not pollute the lovefest in this thread, and pick up where we left off in this older thread:
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2008/07/fresh_thread_dont_fill_this_on.php
Anybody who's terribly worried about our respective honors can follow it over there. (BTW, I was serious about being willing to follow up with you after the lawyers left.)
Posted by: chrisD | July 30, 2008 9:45 PM
Owlmirror for the OM nom nom nomz... and whoever coined the term Sacrilicious©.
Posted by: clinteas | July 30, 2008 9:45 PM
Damian.
Wowbagger.
Oh,and Damian !
Posted by: Larry | July 30, 2008 9:57 PM
I humbly submit Robin as my nominee for said award. His/her arguments that a solar eclipse closely resembling an eye can't simply be an astronomical coincidence, it must therefore be evidence of the creator. In face of overwhelming meaty arguments to the contrary, he/she stuck to his/her guns and refused to open his/her mind to the possibilities.
It was truly awe-inspiring to witness such manifest stupidity.
Thank you for your consideration.
Posted by: firemancarl | July 30, 2008 10:11 PM
I agree with Dustin OM post #44.
We really ought to give them out to Melanie Kroll and her hubby. Oh, the irony and oh, how they would wail!
Posted by: cicely | July 30, 2008 10:14 PM
Owlmirror and Damian (with an a).
Posted by: queenofdenyl | July 30, 2008 10:18 PM
I vote owlmirror. i actually had to change my pants i laughed so hard.
i'm not kidding.
Posted by: ennui | July 30, 2008 10:22 PM
Moses. for that thing with the locusts.
Posted by: ildi | July 30, 2008 10:27 PM
Moses for eruditeness, Owlmirror for the bon mots.
Posted by: afterthought | July 30, 2008 10:54 PM
OT: Misunderstanding physicist over at Salon:
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/07/31/religion_science/index.html
Posted by: mattmc | July 30, 2008 11:12 PM
Owlmirror gets my vote for reasons previously mentioned.
Posted by: Benjamin Franklin | July 30, 2008 11:19 PM
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN: I CAN HAZ MOLLY NOMIN8?
PHARYNGULITES: ...........................
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN: I CAN HAZ MOLLY NOMIN8?
PHARYNGULITES: ...........................
Posted by: Randy! | July 30, 2008 11:23 PM
Thread hijack - Cthulhu trailer? http://www.cthulhu-themovie.com/video.html
Posted by: Alan Kellogg | July 30, 2008 11:24 PM
Owlmirror, because I'm a herd animal.
Oh, and science doesn't know everything? Hell, science doesn't know anything. Science is a tool for coming up with good guesses about stuff. Guesses that are, in the long run, wrong, but serve well enough for the while they're viable. Remember the progression in science degrees;
You get your bachelors when you think you know everything.
You get your masters when you learn you know nothing.
You get your doctorate when you realize, neither does anybody else.
Posted by: LisaJ | July 30, 2008 11:48 PM
Re #83:
"You get your bachelors when you think you know everything.
You get your masters when you learn you know nothing.
You get your doctorate when you realize, neither does anybody else."
Love it! This is the perfect description, really. Fits my scientific life to a t!
Posted by: blf | July 31, 2008 1:08 AM
...and, you get your Nobel when you can convince a few people they also know nothing...
Posted by: bumper | July 31, 2008 1:15 AM
Wowbagger - for commenting above and beyond the call of duty during Crackergate. I went back and checked just one entry and he/she had over 20 posts. I haven't reread them all, but I remember at the time feeling impressed that he was responding so well and so frequently to all manner of stupidity. Well done, Wowbagger.
Posted by: themadlolscientist, FCD | July 31, 2008 1:20 AM
bhold, on dis dai hath Ceiling Cat apeerd un2 me in a dreem & sed:
Iz Teh 1 Tru Ceiling Cat wot maded u but did not eated u, & all Mai folowrz shal vot 4 Owlmirror wot hath pleezd Me gretly.
4 Owlmirror iz Mai profet & hath rited Mai wurdz truely.
ther4 hark un2 teh vois of Ceiling Cat:
bhold, if Owlmirror doth not winneth teh Molly, verily I shal smite thee wif teh plagz ov fleez & tickx, & ther shal b gret waling & ganashin of teefs & scratchin & stufz.
& u shal b casted in2 teh basement wif the puppehs & all teh nasty mean evol peeps wots bin doin all teh nasty mean evol stufz dey raeded bout in Wikidpedia(TM) insted ov raedin teh LOLcatz Bibel & doin all teh g00d stufz.
& u no can has cheezburgrz, nor cookies, nor pespis, nor beerz, nor gushyf00dz, nor catnip meeses, nor suny plases, nor dat stufz wot is liek catnipz 4 peeps, nor isecreemz, nor PENIS GOES WHERE (xept 4 SURPRISE BUTTSECKS!), nor ne ov Mai othr blesings nemoar 4evr.
but ur stummicks shal be sorly aflictd wif teh furballz, & u shal not be abel 2 cast dem 4th. & teh fleez & tickx shal torment u 4evr moar.
& all teh puppehs shal has teh doggy breff, & dey shal ch00 up ur sh00z.
& dey shal pee on teh furnicher & mek p00piez on teh florz, & teh plase shal giv 4th a mitey stinkx, wich shal surpass teh stinkx of fier & brim ston & uncleen sandbockxz all 2gethr.
so tehre. & let all teh kittehs sais amen.
kthxbai.
Posted by: Mike Haubrich, FCD | July 31, 2008 1:21 AM
I have to admit that time constraints prevented me from keeping up with every frackin' comment thread on crackers. So, I missed the owlmirror post. I hate being late to the party all the time. That is the mollyest thing I have ever seen and if I were the King of Morris I would give double-vote points for all of the votes for owlmirror. Look, check this out:
Owlmirror, Order of the Molly. Owl Mirror, OM. O.M. OM. OM, OM. It's a mantra, it's fate. It must be owlmirror.
Posted by: Rayven Alandria | July 31, 2008 1:22 AM
Wowbanger made many great posts during crackergate. Of course, the Catholics refused to answer his questions, but the posts were great nonetheless.
Posted by: Patricia | July 31, 2008 1:24 AM
JefferyD - Please don't leave us. I send you a big ol' hug and a *SMOOCH*!
Posted by: Kseniya | July 31, 2008 1:31 AM
Owlmirror, for uncounted months of outstanding commentary, and for many reasons, not the least of which is his ongoing, persistent and tenacious sparring with i-design imaginist Daniel Smith over on the all-but-forgotten Vox/pipsqueak thread.
If we're going for two, add a vote for Nick Gotts, for similar reasons. Cheers, Nick!
Incidentally, there's no rule against voting for a prior winner, and no reason not to. I do realize that the "Order" aspect of the award has taken on a life of its own, though.
As usual, Pharyngulites will do as they see fit. :-)
Posted by: Kseniya | July 31, 2008 1:34 AM
Erudition?
/pedanticness
Posted by: John Morales | July 31, 2008 1:46 AM
Pedantry.
Posted by: Kseniya | July 31, 2008 1:52 AM
No - really?
;-)
Posted by: Efogoto | July 31, 2008 1:55 AM
I nominate craig. All throughout the cracker threads, I kept thinking that he had a clear position and wrote some great entries. I also kept thinking that I need to nominate this guy for a Molly, so this is the pay off.
Posted by: Rey Fox | July 31, 2008 2:06 AM
Owlmirror's gotta get it this time. Not so much for the LOLcats thing (although he gets credit for realizing that LOLcat speak is only funny and not-painful-to-read in small bites). He deserves a medal for his lengthy back-and-forth with Daniel Smith on the "Sorry Vox" thread. Owned that guy again and again, of course Danny didn't realize it. Three thousand comments and he still doesn't get that he does not have a mechanism.
Honorable mentions this month go to Moses (for his Bible-fu) and Emmett Caulfield (for never letting the Catholics get away with any abuse of facts in the child molestation coverup).
Posted by: Brownian, OM | July 31, 2008 3:02 AM
Homer Simpson for Molly?
OK. I can get behind that.
Posted by: John Morales | July 31, 2008 3:17 AM
Kseniya, I did not doubt you for an instant.
(nothing to do with you being an elite black-ops assassin, either).
Posted by: electrichalibut | July 31, 2008 4:16 AM
I nominate Emmett Caulfield and Wowbagger for their contributions during Crackergate.
Posted by: maureen | July 31, 2008 5:40 AM
Rev.BigDumbChump for sterling service in the face of any number of idiocies.
Posted by: truth machine, OM | July 31, 2008 7:04 AM
but missed the grudging admission part. Not enough, I guess.
You're such an absurd ass. I missed nothing, certainly not your "but fuck it" which indeed is "not enough".
If you want to continue our little bar brawl, I suggest
Look, asshole, you're the one who called me out as being too abusive to compliment as you self-promoted yourself of a Molly, so it's a little late for you to suggest taking it elsewhere. Your fowl intellectually dishonest behavior here is of the same sort that I criticized you for in that previous thread.
Posted by: John Morales | July 31, 2008 7:20 AM
truth machine, if I did not know typos can strike anyone, I'd think you were emotionally invested in this matter.
Which is your prerogative, of course.
Posted by: SC | July 31, 2008 7:49 AM
Perhaps tm's suggesting Paul's too chickenshit to fight him here. ;)
Posted by: MH | July 31, 2008 8:04 AM
SC, not just for his/her comments on Pharyngula, but for his/her sterling work on this post!
(or Greasemonkey/Killfile)
Posted by: Mike Haubrich, FCD | July 31, 2008 8:09 AM
MH, I strongly considered SC and RBH for the same reasons; the thread at Mixing Measure. They made Chris take his ball and go home.
Posted by: John Phillips, FCD | July 31, 2008 8:13 AM
Owlmirror for his awesomeness in that crackergate post if nothing else.
I also wouldn't object to a vote for Nick Gotts and PaulW. Then again, there have been many worthy of at least a mention in dispatches over the last month. But isn't it always so on this blog and one of the main reasons for regular visits. Keep it up people, for along with PZ, you are what make this blog a must read.
Also I nth. the call for PZ, if only for reminding us yet again with crackergate, just in case we needed reminding, that there are crazy fundies in all the death cults who want power over us all.
Posted by: AdamK | July 31, 2008 8:27 AM
brokenSoldier!!!! Yay!!!
(And not for sentimental reasons, but for really good posts.)
And I nominate kobra, for highspiritedness.
And if owlmirror gets it, I can't say I'd be unhappy about that at all.
Posted by: sphex | July 31, 2008 8:35 AM
For me it has to be Owlmirror, but I want to put in honorable mentions for craig (always patient and well-spoken) and Patricia (always hysterically funny and well-spoken). I love hanging out here with so many smart people.
Posted by: Jason Failes | July 31, 2008 8:57 AM
Ha, just read the LOL CRACKERGATE.
Oh yeah: Owlmirror.
And if I had to have a second pick: Inanimate Carbon Rod!
Posted by: Jason Failes | July 31, 2008 8:58 AM
(a month before Homer Simpson at least)
Posted by: Eljay | July 31, 2008 9:11 AM
I liked owlmirror too and Rev Big Dumb Chimp.
But I also think we need an ANTI MOLLY, perhaps the cracker award?You know, give the man a cracker he's the idiot of the month. This would be for those creationists and other crazies who through their insane postings bring the best out of the molly winners and yet do not get banned.
Like Fr J.
Posted by: Darrell E | July 31, 2008 9:43 AM
Emmett Caulfield for the Molly.
For many well articulated, no holds barred, and accurate, takedowns of religious hypocrisy during the crackergate affair.
Posted by: Sili | July 31, 2008 9:55 AM
Patricia for her excellent takedown of the Catheters. Not the first time she's done it (I've seen her nominated before), but the first time I was awake enough to notice.
Posted by: Paul W. | July 31, 2008 10:03 AM
TM,
You're right. I shouldn't have taken a swipe at you in this thread if I didn't want to have a slugfest with you in this thread. Which I don't.
My apologies.
Also, maybe it wasn't as funny as I thought to acknowledge your correctness on a point by saying that I wouldn't acknowledge it. FWIW, I'll make it explicit again: thank you for correcting me about Webster Cook. I needed that.
I can't take back the rest, because that would actually be intellectually dishonest. If you want to address it in the other thread, fine. If you want to address it here, I suggest we wait until next week, after the Molly-awarding and the winner-congratulating.
Apologies to everyone for taking the thread OT.
Posted by: Paul W. | July 31, 2008 10:06 AM
OT question: what does FCD stand for?
I thought I'd have figured it out by now, but I haven't.
Posted by: Sven DiMilo | July 31, 2008 10:14 AM
FCD = Friend of Charlie Darwin
although--newsflash--he's STILL DEAD.
Posted by: Sili | July 31, 2008 10:36 AM
Sven,
Chuck begs to differ.
Posted by: negentropyeater | July 31, 2008 10:57 AM
Owlmirror
Nick Gotts
And a special award to the Squidmaster :
he broke his record this month, according to sitemeter, 1.94 Million visits (last record was April 1.67 Million) and that's more than double from last year's July '07 with 0.87 Million.
Congratulations !
Posted by: StuV | July 31, 2008 11:18 AM
Owlmirror, of course. For shame that he doesn't already have one.
Also, Patricia.
Posted by: Paul W., FCD | July 31, 2008 11:21 AM
Thanks, Sven. Since uncle Chuck is my #1 hero, I'm in.
Posted by: Emmet Caulfield | July 31, 2008 11:37 AM
Wowbagger for some pithy comments and really good laughs during Crackergate.
Paul W. for forgetting to nominate him last month.
I'd also be very happy to see SC, Owlmirror, Patricia or Nick Gotts, amongst others, get it, but I can't vote for 10 people, can I?
Posted by: SC | July 31, 2008 11:59 AM
Thanks, MH (and Mike Haubrich)! For the record, I'm a woman.
I wonder how happy Chris at MM will be to have a link from Pharyngula to that post... *mischievous smirk*
Posted by: Qwerty | July 31, 2008 12:01 PM
The consensus seems to be for Owlmirror.
Personally, I found the few JoJo posts always made me roar with silent laughter. (Hey, I am at work when I read these.)
Posted by: acj | July 31, 2008 12:21 PM
Should be Owlmirror or Wowbagger.
Qwerty @#123, that JoJo is way too lazy to qualify for an OM, but I kinda agree with you.
Posted by: Paul W. | July 31, 2008 1:09 PM
Does anybody know who wrote this "Daily Dissent" defending PZ, posted by Patrick Appel on Andrew Sullivan's blog at The Atlantic?
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/07/dissent-of-th-2.html
Whoever it was deserves special kudos.
Posted by: Longtime Lurker | July 31, 2008 1:34 PM
I have to throw my hat in for Owlmirror- with the caveat that, since this is for his "LOLCrakerz" comment, it is in this instance a "Mahlee"
Posted by: protocol | July 31, 2008 1:35 PM
I vote for Nick Gotts for his well-reasoned and clear posts
Posted by: queenofdenyl | July 31, 2008 1:37 PM
Since we are asking about initials...what does OM mean?
Posted by: Sastra, OM | July 31, 2008 1:43 PM
queenofdenyl #128 wrote:
Order of the Molly. It's basically the "Pharyngula Commenter of the Month" award, named after the late great Texan, Molly Ivans.
Posted by: Blake Stacey | July 31, 2008 1:43 PM
queenofdenyl:
"OM" is short for "Order of the Molly".
I nominate Dr. Brian Grieg Fry, fang-master.
Posted by: negentropyeater | July 31, 2008 1:46 PM
Order of the Molly
Posted by: James F | July 31, 2008 2:07 PM
#130
Brian ought to have his own TV series, I think he'd be a great public face for science and could really get the message of how exciting and rewarding research can be out to the public!
Posted by: queenofdenyl | July 31, 2008 2:25 PM
Thanks. It all makes so much more sense now.
Posted by: Scholar | July 31, 2008 2:49 PM
Nobody has mentioned Owlmirror yet. He had a great post about LolCrackers and cats. It deserves the molly, hands down.
Posted by: JB | July 31, 2008 2:53 PM
Dr. Brian Grieg Fry:
For a perfect, illuminating and entertaining contribution to a wonderful thread - "Evolving snake fangs". And for knowing just where and how to put the boot in.
i.e. this in reply to Kent
Wow. I just love how after scientists bust their butts in the lab for years to answer a riddle, it is always dismissed with the catch-all 'Guddit'. That is infantile logic at its finest. We are studying modern uses of ancient toolboxes. As oppossed to recently evolved tools such as yourself. Go back and play in your sandbox and I hope the cat crapped in it! :D
Posted by: Alan | July 31, 2008 3:50 PM
I have nominate Rebecca for the classic crackergate comment: (paraphrasing here), Before I let a guy transubstatiate down my throat, he has buy me more than a cup of blood>
Posted by: ildi | July 31, 2008 4:06 PM
Ok, I just finished skimming Damian's very, very long post on evidentialism. (I've bookmarked it for later detailed reading.) I was shamed into it by reading SC's and Beowulff's posts over at the Mixing Memories thread. I'm an evidentialist and never knew it. (Wait a minute, I thought I was a materialist; I'm so confused!) I have to quote just a couple of the gems I found (remember, this was just from skimming):
"A world in which people always abided by the evidentialist principle, like a world in which human rights were always respected, in which there were no wide gaps between rich and poor, and in which all nations and peoples were at peace with one another, would be a very different world from the one we live in, and like those other possible worlds, I think it would also be a much better world than the one we live in." I call Star-Trek-world!
"Basic to a certain kind of unhealthy religious temper is the insistence that doubting the dogmas of faith, or even inquiring critically into the evidence for them, constitutes sinful haughtiness against God, displaying the reprobate's proud closed-mindedness against the Truth."
and my favorite:
"Self-respect imposes on us the duty to direct our lives in accordance with our rational capacities. When it comes to belief, our chief capacity is the ability to weigh the evidence and apportion our belief to it. Letting wishes or social conformity or self-deceptive aspirations to self-approval interfere with the exercise of this capacity is an abdication of our responsibility to govern our own lives through our own reason, and displays a lack of the respect we owe ourselves as autonomous beings with human dignity."
I nominate Damian, too!
Posted by: Scholar | July 31, 2008 4:07 PM
Just curious... has anybody seen that comment by Owlmirror about the Crakers? OMG it is so FUNNY!
It is a MUST read. I would like to read it too.
Can somebody tell me which thread it is on? Because there are many thousands of comments on each of the many cracker-related threads. Like what was the DATE that the comment was made, what was the NAME of the post that day, and what NUMBER comment was it...
Thanks.
Posted by: Scholar | July 31, 2008 4:12 PM
Okay i found it :)
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2008/07/fyi.php
comment 262
Posted by: Owlmirror | July 31, 2008 5:14 PM
Nick Gotts, Damian, SC, Emmet Caulfield, JoJo, Moses, Wowbagger, and many others, are all excellent choices.
PS: EMBARRASSED ME IS EMBARRASSED
Huh. I guess "TEH END.....?" wasn't "TEH END", was it?
But I have stuff to work on that CAN HAS priority. Crap.
Posted by: Grendels Dad | July 31, 2008 6:01 PM
One vote each for:
Paul W.
Nick Gotts
SC
I guess nobody can pick just one.
Posted by: Your Name's Not Bruce? | July 31, 2008 6:43 PM
I vote Sastra for the wonderful posts on the Giberson thread.
Great stuff!
Posted by: Sili | July 31, 2008 7:01 PM
Okay,
I have to throw in an extra vote for Owlmirror for the LOL is trooly strong in this one.
People, people! Settle down. Settle down, now.
All this clamouring for dr Fry is most unbecoming.
If you would only take a minute to think for a bit, I think you would all agree with me in the following:
We really cannot nominate the good doctor before we've seen more pictorial evidence of his worth.
In particular I think a few snaps sans shirt are in order - with or without snakes, lizards and/or cephalopods as he prefers. I mean, we must make sure that he measures up suitably to our betentacled overlord.
Posted by: JoJo | July 31, 2008 7:53 PM
acj #124
As the late W. Tecumseh Sherman put it so well, "If nominated I will not run, if elected I will not serve."
While I appreciate the thought, I've only been here for about a month. Let me mature like fine wine, a good brie,
a ripe turd, a crotchety old man. Besides, I'm too lazy.Posted by: Damian with an a | July 31, 2008 8:15 PM
I'm goin' for SC, Owlmirror, and Paul W, and I won't take no for an answer.
SC is a veritable encyclopedia of all things rational. She's clever and witty, informative and, well, you get the idea. Shorter: Me like.
And I don't care if it was more than a month ago [and I can't be bothered to find out, naturally], SC's presence on the torture thread was truly inspirational. After a few rounds with SC, I'm quite sure that silentsanta wished that he/she had remained true to his/her name. I tend to see threads like that one as the true test of an individuals ability to construct and deconstruct an argument. SC excelled, and that's why she gets my vote.
Owlmirror, for consistently surprising me with the quality of his posts, depth of his knowledge, as well as his patience in sticking with an argument. On numerous occasions over the last month I have noticed Owlmirror's name in the side bar and, without hesitation, taken a look at what he has to say.
He also produced some pretty funny "LOL" narratives of Crackergate, as well. Is there no end to his talent, I ask?
I like that Paul W chap, if I'm honest. He sneak's in when nobody is looking and, would you believe, has the temerity to go against the grain! It's all going to his head, if you ask me.
In all seriousness, I am deeply impressed by the thoroughness of Paul's approach. This guy just doesn't "do" two line rebuttals, and while most people likely refuse to read anything that is too long, the best compliment that I can pay to Paul is that everybody should take the time to read what he has to say.
He deserves a Molly for a post that he produced about the history of religion and science, alone. It really was that good.
And I'd like to add that the three that I have nominated help to make Pharyngula the place that it is, and they expose the claims of some science bloggers about regulars on this site, as mendacious.
Posted by: reuben | July 31, 2008 8:38 PM
another for owlmirror
Posted by: cthulhus minion | July 31, 2008 11:35 PM
Dr Fry, who took the time to show up and help explain his paper.
Posted by: bastion | August 1, 2008 1:51 AM
Molly nominations:
Having read almost all of the Cracker-related posts (and, as I result, I am way behind on several projects at home and at work, and have built up a rather substantial sleep deficit as well), I hesitate to name names, because I cannot possibly name all the worthy posters--and IMO there were many.
But I think these three posters stand out in my mind:
1. Owlmirror for combining humor, intelligence, and rationality. The epitome of what I aspire to as a poster.
2. Wowbagger for his/her many right-on-the-mark responses to the irrational and uninformed. Wowbagger often said what I wanted to say before I could say it, or sometimes before I even realized that's exactly what I wanted to say.
3. Moses for the sheer awesomeness of his knowledge of mythology, biblical history and archeology, and his willingness to use that knowledge to counter those who consider themselves biblical experts, but obviously aren't.
Posted by: Pandora Neurospora | August 1, 2008 2:11 AM
Not sure if this person has been mentioned by I would like to nominate Patricia if it isn't too late. She is absolutely hilarious as seen with the cracker incident and takes no prisoners when it comes to stupidity.
Posted by: Hap | August 1, 2008 1:07 PM
Owlmirror's LOLcracker synopsis is really funny. And SC was really good chopping up the person who runs "Mixing Memory" (I loved hearing the blog runner discuss honesty in contrast to Prof. Myers - another fuse blown on the irony meter.)
Posted by: Sven DiMilo | August 1, 2008 1:09 PM
Hate to snark, but Dr. Fry was the fourteenth of sixteen authors on that paper...it's just barely "his."
Posted by: phantomreader42 | August 1, 2008 2:41 PM
Longtime Lurker @ #126:
I'd say if that's the case just call it an "O.M. NOM NOM NOM" :P
Posted by: Daphne | August 1, 2008 5:28 PM
I don't delurk often, but I have to put in my nomination for Wowbagger, whom I currently have a raging intellectual crush* on! (*SIGH!*). Wowbagger's posts are consistently intelligent and hilarious.
(*thanks to either JeffreyD or Kseniya for the wonderful term "intellectual crush"!)
Daphne
Posted by: SC | August 1, 2008 7:55 PM
Daphne,
That was mine:
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2008/07/i_get_email_20.php#comment-1014317
Credit, please. :)
Sigh. I miss JeffreyD already.
Posted by: Daphne | August 1, 2008 11:04 PM
Well then, thanks to *SC* for my beloved new term! :)
Posted by: Wowbagger | August 1, 2008 11:10 PM
Daphne wrote:
Thanks![blushing]
Posted by: truth machine, OM | August 2, 2008 12:30 AM
FWIW, this sort of thing greatly impresses me. Thanks for your apology, and kudos, Paul. (I hope you see this.)
Posted by: truth machine, OM | August 2, 2008 12:40 AM
P.S. The fact that Damian recommends Paul makes me to want to pay careful attention to what Paul has to say.
Posted by: windy, OM | August 4, 2008 11:43 AM
Am I too late? If not, I agree with most everyone else that it's time to give Owlmirror the Molly - how about a double with SC?
Posted by: Physicalist | August 4, 2008 8:30 PM
Owlmirror. AAAAOOOOOGAAAAH
Posted by: Paul W. | August 6, 2008 7:53 PM
So, um... how's the vote counting going? Has the secretary of state signed off?
I knew those butterfly ballots would be a problem.