…and this is a 
Catching up with Molly
Category: Administrative
Posted on: October 1, 2008 10:46 AM, by PZ Myers
Now that it is October, it is time to finally announce the winner of the August Molly award: our first non-human primate wins by a landslide, the Rev. BigDumbChimp. There may have been a few irregularities in the voting, since his backers were able to raise twice as many thumb-like appendages in approval compared to the others, but we will accept it as a reasonable consequence of biological diversity.
Now let's move on to September. State who you think was the most interesting, insightful, amusing, thoughtful, or attention-seeking commenter for the past month in the comments below.
Comments
Posted by: E.V. | October 1, 2008 10:55 AM
YAY! The KoT has a Molly!
Posted by: SC | October 1, 2008 10:57 AM
Congrats, Rev.!
Posted by: SC | October 1, 2008 11:08 AM
P.S. And thanks, guest bloggers!
Posted by: Sven DiMilo | October 1, 2008 11:12 AM
another *clenched-fist salute* for the Rev.
And I'll kick off the nominations with SC and Bill Dauphin. Just 'cause is all.
Posted by: 386sx | October 1, 2008 11:14 AM
I would like to nominate Mrs Tilton.
Posted by: Janine ID AKA The Lone Drinker | October 1, 2008 11:14 AM
Get your hands off the Molly, you damn dirty ape!
Kidding but I think you know that.
Congrats, Chimpy!
Posted by: oaksterdam | October 1, 2008 11:23 AM
SC and Patricia should already have Mollys. Lets get Sven DiMilo one while we're at it.
Congrats Rev.
Posted by: Pierce R. Butler | October 1, 2008 11:23 AM
Congrats to the Rev BDC, KOT, OM... What is the acronym for the prize for the most acronyms suffixed to your nym?
As for the equinoctial OM - Nick Gotts has continued to make the most sense of the commenters I've read here.
Posted by: Bill Dauphin | October 1, 2008 11:24 AM
I'll reiterate my earlier nomination for negentropyeater, who, I still believe, had posted enough Molly-worthy stuff in the first couple weeks of September to warrant the nod.
PS: I still like the idea of oak-leaf clusters to indicate multiple awards.
Posted by: spgreenlaw | October 1, 2008 11:26 AM
I second the vote for SC. His comments add a lot to the conversation and his library of links is always rocking. Plus he's always bringing up Pyotr Kropotkin.
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp, KoT, OM | October 1, 2008 11:27 AM
Thanks all!! Quite the honor for an unworthy half literate sub-human. And yes, I'm reassessing all the letters. It's just gaudy.
I put my vote in for SC!
Posted by: Bill Dauphin | October 1, 2008 11:38 AM
This stuff is always difficult on the quasi-anonymous intertoobz (expect for those of us who post under gender-specific names: women named "Bill" are, AFAIK, rarer than boys named "Sue"), but either you're mistaken about SC's gender or I am.
Thinking about it, my assumption is probably sexist: I base it on SC's positions on what are traditionally known as "women's issues"... and why should a male poster be able to "sound like a woman" on those issues?
[mumble, mumble, mumble...]
PS: Even though my own first choice was somebody else, no sane person could argue against SC, OM.
Posted by: Benjamin Franklin | October 1, 2008 11:39 AM
Congrats Rev BDC KoT OM BBQ BFD.
Well deserved, have some congratulatory BBQ
BF
Posted by: Bill Dauphin | October 1, 2008 11:43 AM
Verflixt!!
This...
Should (obviously!!) have been this...
...why shouldn't a male poster be able to "sound like a woman" on those issues?
Why is it I always notice these things during the moments after hitting "Post" but before the comment entry window actually disappears. It's like that moment just as the bowling ball leaves your fingertips when you know it's going in the gutter and there's not a d@mn thing you can do! [sigh]
Posted by: Nick Gotts | October 1, 2008 11:45 AM
Congrats to the Rev. And another vote for SC!
Posted by: spgreenlaw | October 1, 2008 11:49 AM
Ah, Bill, perhaps you are right. In which case, sorry SC! I'm a pro-feminist myself, so I don't have any trouble at all attributing the male sex to someone with those sort of positions, since I'm one myself. I'm honestly not sure why I thought SC to be a he, when I posted the comment I honestly didn't even think about it. Regardless of the reason, I should not have assumed one way or another.
Posted by: Sven DiMilo | October 1, 2008 11:49 AM
I'll also nominate Pierce R. Butler solely for use of the word "equinoctial."
Posted by: Jason Failes | October 1, 2008 11:52 AM
The Molly nominations are amongst my favorites, as many link to comments long buried but well worth a read.
Speaking of which, I'm off to follow the negentropyeater link, am looking forward to many more, and will drop off a vote in the morn.
Posted by: Feynmaniac | October 1, 2008 11:54 AM
I vote for Nick Gotts. Anyone who has the patience to deal with Scott from Oregon regularly deserves some sort of award.
Posted by: spgreenlaw | October 1, 2008 11:55 AM
Bill,
I do that almost every single comment. I have to start training myself to go reflexively for the preview button, because as things are, my comments are often a big mess. Take for example,
I'm a pro-feminist myself, so I don't have any trouble at all attributing the male sex to someone with those sort of positions, since I'm one myself. The awkward bookending of the sentence with "myself" makes me look illiterate. Ugh.
I am filled with shame. :P
Posted by: Bill Dauphin | October 1, 2008 12:03 PM
spgreenlaw (@16):
Hey, I confessed that my take was unconsciously sexist, didn't I? ;^)
FWIW, I in no way meant to suggest that men couldn't be feminists — in fact, I count myself as one. It's more of a tone of voice thing... and in any case, as I said, I'm probably talking out of my sphincter anyway.
Posted by: Quiet Desperation | October 1, 2008 12:04 PM
Vote for me, and you all get cookies!
UBER COOKIE!
Posted by: CyberLizard | October 1, 2008 12:11 PM
Congrats, Rev.!
Posted by: spgreenlaw | October 1, 2008 12:11 PM
Quiet Desperation,
Unfortunately I'm vegan, so those chocolate chips are off limits. You'll have to do better than that to buy my vote!
Posted by: Jason Failes | October 1, 2008 12:17 PM
Dedicated to spgreenlaw @ #20,
"Allow myself to introduce.....myself"
-Austin Powers
Posted by: Bill Dauphin | October 1, 2008 12:17 PM
I don't mean to be hijacking the Molly thread, so I'll make this my last (and brief) note:
I've become a bit gunshy about Preview, because (and maybe this is browser-specific) it tends to hash some of my embedded HTML (esp. em-dashes and angle brackets). I try to proofread in the entry window — and proofreading is part of what I do for a living! — but too often something escapes. Often, as with the error I corrected above, it's a word that's missing a syntactical "marker" (i.e., an ending indicating number, tense, or negation) but is otherwise correct, making it less obviously an error.
Posted by: AJ Milne | October 1, 2008 12:23 PM
Dammit! I keep trying to, but for some reason, I can't. I don't know what's wrong...
Oh. Wait.
That's all it was. I had my browser set to reject cookies.
(At which point Captain Obvious ducks...)
Posted by: SC | October 1, 2008 12:28 PM
:)
I'm a woman. (I guess my shameless flirting is mostly confined to the evening hours.)
People almost always assume I'm a man from my writing for some reason, and I take no offense. I've tried to figure out why that is in the past, and I'm still not sure.
One thing that I appreciate about this blog is the number of sincere and vocal male feminists, such that it really is often hard to tell. When Grammar RWA mentioned that he was a man back in August, I confessed that I had long assumed that he was a woman because of his strong, informed defense of women's reproductive rights. It's a rare forum in which it's so difficult to assign gender based on comments. Another thing to love about Pharyngula.
(And thanks, guys.)
Posted by: Patricia | October 1, 2008 12:33 PM
Congrats to the Chimp! Turning typo's into an art form deserves rewarding.
I nominate Nick Gotts for September. He's hooked more trolls than any of us. The battle with that dungfish Piltdown Man reads like an epic.
OwlMirror gets kudos for spouting more catholic dogma than Big Bad Bill even knows. *pffft*
Posted by: Hairy Doctor Professor | October 1, 2008 12:38 PM
This month's Molly should go to Patricia, for generally refreshing snarkiness if nothing else. Keep fighting the good fight, babe.
Oh, and two opposable thumbs up for the good Reverend.
Posted by: ThirtyFiveUp | October 1, 2008 12:43 PM
Congratulations Rev BDC KoT OM BBQ BFD.
Are you now Rt. Rev.?
Re: the great apes; it is so sad that what we humans gained (?) in brain power, we lost in body strength and the cool use of four "hands".
Posted by: bybelknap, FCD | October 1, 2008 12:53 PM
A loud, strong vote for Patricia!
Posted by: BobC | October 1, 2008 1:20 PM
The feet of the human ape can still be used for grasping things. I frequently use my bare feet and toes to pick up stuff I drop on the floor, to avoid bending over which isn't good for my old back.
Congratulations to Rev. BigDumbChimp who most certainly isn't dumb. By the way, isn't it correct to say people are a type of chimpanzee?
I think Patricia deserves the September Molly award.
Posted by: Danio | October 1, 2008 1:22 PM
Hearty congrats and a lifetime supply of bananas (the atheist's nightmare, don'tcha know) to the Rev.
Strong support for SC for the September nomination. Love. Her.
Posted by: James F | October 1, 2008 1:22 PM
Hail to the chimp!
Posted by: thalarctos | October 1, 2008 1:32 PM
I'll see your "equinoctial" and raise you at least 3 years' worth of well-thought-out and witty comments that I'm aware of, perhaps even more.
Pierce R. Butler for September's Molly!
Posted by: Quiet Desperation | October 1, 2008 1:36 PM
Unfortunately I'm vegan, so those chocolate chips are off limits. You'll have to do better than that to buy my vote!
Nah. My campaign adviser, Karl Rove, told me to just write off the relatively insignificant Vegan voter base.
Supposedly the Betelgeusian voters are much more important.
Posted by: Bill Dauphin | October 1, 2008 1:38 PM
SC:
Whew! I'm glad my memory/intuition hadn't betrayed me on that score!
thalarctos:
Say, isn't that an illegal string bet? I'm jus' sayin'... ;^)
Posted by: thalarctos | October 1, 2008 1:49 PM
Probably is, for all that I know about poker, Bill. Then again, knowing what you're talking about before getting it wrong on an international forum is so pre-Palin :)...
Posted by: Bill Dauphin | October 1, 2008 1:52 PM
A neologism that will no doubt haunt my nightmares until (fingers crossed) we wake safe and sound up on 5 November!
Posted by: Nerd of Redhead | October 1, 2008 1:55 PM
My contratulations to the Rev. for his well deserved award. I'll raise a beer in your honor tonight.
So many deserving posters. SC, Patricia, Nick Gotts, Bill Dauphin, and AJ Milne come particulary to mind. And several more I can't remember at this moment. (I really need to start a list.)
For this month I will nominate Nick Gotts and Patricia for reasons already mentioned above.
Posted by: 386sx | October 1, 2008 2:03 PM
Congratulations to Rev. BigDumbChimp who most certainly isn't dumb. By the way, isn't it correct to say people are a type of chimpanzee?
For today, yes it is. Today we are all a chimpanzee. Everybody go drink some booze and stuff like that. For today. For tomorrow. For the world. God bless us all.
Posted by: 386sx | October 1, 2008 2:10 PM
Congratulations to Rev. BigDumbChimp who most certainly isn't dumb. By the way, isn't it correct to say people are a type of chimpanzee?
Ich bin ein chimpanzee.
Mr. Rev. BigDumbChimp, tear down this wall!
Posted by: Emmet Caulfield | October 1, 2008 2:35 PM
Since it's long past seconding, I "umpteenth" SC.
It's time Nick Gotts* one and negentropyeater too.
* = with apologies for the very lame surname joke.
Posted by: Longtime Lurker | October 1, 2008 2:52 PM
A million monkeys typing couldn't come up with a word of Shakespeare, but one Big Dumb Chimp can win a Molly!
Posted by: Thinker | October 1, 2008 2:55 PM
I nominate Crudely Wrott for a series of well-crafted comments, of which this is a particularly fine example!
Posted by: Sili | October 1, 2008 3:24 PM
Congrats to his Reverence!
True, Nick Gotts has really been at it lately, but I'm afraid I never had the patience to read those long long threads.
But this month I made notes!
Patricia.
Danio, I actually have another one from her.
Randy plus a followup.
For shame - I didn't save anything by SC. Ah well - next month, then.
Posted by: IceFarmer | October 1, 2008 4:49 PM
Lots of great candidates but I'd like to see Chimpy up for a repeat. The only thing we need now is more stupid zealot posts for him to really hone his skills on!
Posted by: Bride of Shrek OM | October 1, 2008 4:56 PM
Congrats to the Rev, a finer example of monkeydom I have never seen and it's abut time we started acknowledging the contributions of our non-human relatives on this blog. I raise a banana in toast to his Molly.
For September plese, please give it to Patricia and SC, both well deserving and well overdue.. Go on PZ, you KNOW you can give out two at once.
Posted by: AJ Milne | October 1, 2008 5:01 PM
Thank you. Seconding this. Honestly, one of the reasons I really hate posting in these threads is I almost always hate having to choose. Sure, it's not supposed to be a big deal or anything, but y'know... Having to decide between those two really sucks. Mollies for both of them.
(... and thanks, N of R).
Posted by: PZ Myers | October 1, 2008 5:06 PM
You know, this isn't the kind of formal vote where you only get one say in the matter. If someone nominates 3 people, I have always counted each vote.
This works because, of course, no one is abusing it -- if everyone nominated 10 people it would be a mess to keep track of. But if you think a couple of people are equally deserving, go ahead and nominate them all. I don't mind.
Posted by: The Chimp's Raging Id | October 1, 2008 5:24 PM
It's about time the KoT got an OM after his name. Congratulations, Rev!
I'll add my voice to the chorus of nominations for SC for September's Molly.
Posted by: Paul W. | October 1, 2008 5:33 PM
Congrats, Rev. BDC., on a well-earned Molly.
SC and Nick Gotts for the next one(s).
Posted by: Reginald Selkirk | October 1, 2008 6:05 PM
I nominate Sarah Palin for the next Molly. She has provided most of the material for my recent posts.
Posted by: The Chimp's Raging Id | October 1, 2008 6:34 PM
Just noticed something that seems a little odd:
Shouldn't that be attention grabbing - surely attention seeking shouldn't be a behaviour worthy of reward?
Posted by: Alan Kellogg | October 1, 2008 7:00 PM
Being the blind follower of obvious trends that I am, I too lend my support to the lady SC. Why? Because her non-de-web was the first one to come up.
And congrats to ol' Fumble Typer for absconding with an OM before anyone could catch him. May your race be promoted to species status (Pan schwienfurthi that is) soon.
Posted by: Pandora Neurospora | October 1, 2008 7:01 PM
My vote is for SC. She is hilarious and she goes for the jugular.
Posted by: AJ Milne | October 1, 2008 7:36 PM
Erm... Oh yeah. Never mind, then.
Posted by: David Marjanović, OM | October 1, 2008 7:37 PM
Kel and Nick Gotts. And around 20 others, as usual.
But I don't think chimpeachment will be necessary.
Posted by: Patricia | October 1, 2008 7:39 PM
Attention seeking? Wouldn't that be the trolls? Yuck, sorting them out would be a messy job.
Posted by: Jose | October 1, 2008 8:04 PM
I'm not such a fan, but I think that's because in always thought the name was Big Dump Chimp. I could never make it to the actual comment. I'd always be thinking something like, "Will someone please get that chimp a bran muffin!"
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp, KoT, OM | October 1, 2008 8:10 PM
I've been called worse...... by my wife even....
Posted by: Jose | October 1, 2008 8:15 PM
People almost always assume I'm a man from my writing for some reason, and I take no offense.
I think that's because you don't dot your "i"s with hearts, like most women do when they type.
Posted by: Feynmaniac | October 1, 2008 8:27 PM
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - In a surprise outcome today George W. Bush won the Molly Award on the popular blog Pharyngula. The Molly is awarded monthly to the commenters who provide good arguments and insight in the threads.
"I'm surprised," explained Bush. " I never even posted a comment on Farynuglia [sic]."
Many commenters were very upset, demanding a recount. "Is their any aspect of my life this guy can't fuck up?" asked an anonymous commenter. Many past winners joined the chorus, vowing to return their award if in fact Bush is inducted into the Order.
The Supreme Court is expected to heart the case, but many expect them to rule in Bush's favour, again.
Posted by: SC | October 1, 2008 8:38 PM
But I give all my comments a little spritz of perfume! I thought that'd be a dead giveaway.
Posted by: J Myers | October 1, 2008 8:45 PM
Bill Dauphin.
Posted by: yoeruek | October 1, 2008 9:07 PM
Congrats BDC!
To David M.: Thanks for "antworten" my request. Where did you find that Mastodon saurier´s skull? Just curious. I live near "Grube Messel".
Patricia for Molly!
Posted by: yoeruek | October 1, 2008 9:12 PM
..and SC! I think you´re somewhat like a tag team.
Posted by: Dark Matter | October 1, 2008 9:28 PM
Feynmaniac, just for this.
But also SC, Patricia, and negentropyeater. SC because she's brilliant and rational; Patricia because offbeat snarkiness should be rewarded more than it is; and negentropyeater also for generalized logic and brilliance.
Posted by: clinteas | October 1, 2008 9:56 PM
Nick Gotts and Patricia are overdue for the Molly !
Posted by: windy | October 1, 2008 10:22 PM
I vote for SC! And "J." for troll of the month.
Posted by: Kel | October 1, 2008 10:28 PM
Nick Gotts for the molly. His tenacity and persistence in tackling fundamentalist lunacy is extremely admirable and a pleasure to read. Blunt, brutal, yet entertaining.
Posted by: cicely | October 1, 2008 10:36 PM
Congrats to the Rev., and votes to SC, Patricia and Nick Gotts (in no particular order).
Posted by: Paper Hand | October 1, 2008 11:25 PM
I can never think of a nominee for these awards. There's just too many good commenters to narrow it down to one or two!
Posted by: Kseniya | October 1, 2008 11:39 PM
Bill Dauphin for his intelligence, eloquence, and erudition; and for his good nature, which manifests in many ways - not the least of which is his ready willingness to say those rarely-heard three-word phrases such as "I don't know," and "I was wrong."
Posted by: Sven DiMilo | October 1, 2008 11:43 PM
*waves to K in greeting and agreement*
Posted by: Sastra, OM | October 2, 2008 12:08 AM
I always have a difficult time with this, because it's hard to choose.
This month, Nick Gotts and SC.
Next month, I'll vote for the rest of you.
Posted by: Kenneth Oberlander | October 2, 2008 4:16 AM
Nick Gotts, and SC.
Oh, and that pesky God fellow.
Posted by: Rog | October 2, 2008 4:37 AM
I'd like to add my vote for Patricia - always fun when she joins in !
Rog
Posted by: SC | October 2, 2008 8:27 AM
Oh, and my vote goes to Nick Gotts, of course, for decency, wit, clarity, and the many other wonderful qualities he brings to this blog daily.
I've also enjoyed negentropyeater's and Bill Dauphin's comments in recent weeks, as well as those of several previous - and new! - Molly winners. Owlmirror's contributions to the D'Souza thread, in particular, have been most impressive.
Haven't heard enough from Brownian, Damian, or Paul W. of late. What, you think having lives and responsibilities is some kind of excuse or something?
Posted by: Jason Failes | October 2, 2008 8:41 AM
A Vote for Sastra:
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2008/10/youtube_chickens_out.php#comment-1134393
Posted by: Iron Soul | October 2, 2008 12:55 PM
A vote for Patricia. Always a must read.
Posted by: Bodach | October 2, 2008 1:02 PM
I think Mrs. Tilton deserves a Molly but maybe she has one already? If not, then please offer her one. Nick would be a good choice, otherwise.
My imaginary self would be a good third choice, when I read the smart comments and believe I could have said something similar if I hadn't been / am not so slow...
/ sits quietly inacorner...
Posted by: SC | October 2, 2008 1:52 PM
Yes. So does Sastra, of course. The list of previous Molly winners is here:
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/molly.php
You can click on "Commenters" at the top of the page to go there.
Posted by: Randy Stimpson | October 2, 2008 1:58 PM
Maybe RBDC should recieve a plaque to post in his office. That way he can explain what he's been doing all day.
Posted by: Grendels Dad | October 2, 2008 3:40 PM
Always a difficult task. In the past, I have cast votes for Nick Gotts and SC, and I do so again. I also want to add negentropyeater to my growing list of deserving nominees.
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp, KoT, OM | October 2, 2008 5:27 PM
bitter
Posted by: Stagyar zil Doggo | October 2, 2008 5:27 PM
Congratulations to the good Reverend on his Mollyfication.
I'd like to cast a vote for Owlmirror for his perseverance and command of Catholicese in the thread infected by Piltdown Man.
If you ever start handing out multiple Molly's to the same person, I think Sastra should get the first two.
PS: Check out pastor's pledges for the state of MA.
Posted by: Randy Stimpson aka Intelligent Designer | October 2, 2008 7:20 PM
Your damn right I'm bitter. Not one person has ever nominated me for a Molly award :P But shouldn't you stay above the frey and let your friends defend you like a good Molly award winner?
However, I will give your last "what the fuck" posting seven stars though. For real.
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp, KoT, OM | October 2, 2008 8:33 PM
Good to see you have a sense of humor Randy.
nah I like to dig in.
And yes, that video is insane. I'm sure there are some of my not so distant relatives that would be right at home there.
Posted by: LisaJ | October 2, 2008 9:08 PM
Congrats RBDC! I nominate Patricia for this round. She's always fantastic.
Posted by: Kseniya | October 3, 2008 12:23 AM
*waves back at Sven*
There are always several outstanding nominees each month. Even nominating three leaves out a dozen.
Posted by: Memoriam | October 3, 2008 1:04 PM
I'm tossing in another vote for Patricia. She's always a consummate wiseass, and it's high time she gets some credit for it.
Posted by: Rey Fox | October 8, 2008 7:10 PM
It's late, so I'll throw my vote away on Kel, for his tireless engagement of that one Catholic nutcase on that one old thread...or maybe both of them.