I know, I know.
When I first found out that I had been nominated for a 2006 Weblog Award for Best Medical/Health Issues Blog a few days ago, I initially said that I didn't think I would win and didn't really care if I would win. And it was true.
Then.
Then, much to my surprise, I found myself actually in the lead by a sizable margin for a couple of days, but over the last day or so a diet blog has passed Respectful Insolence in the voting. Now that I see might actually have a chance to win this thing, I've had--shall we say?--an attitude readjustment. I've decided that maybe it's not so undignified to lobby for votes after all. Now, you might think that, now that I'm a little behind, I might decide to go negative the way that PZ and the Bad Astronomer have.
You'd be wrong. I have standards. At least for now, anyway. And, as a demonstration of those high standards, I'll have to bring out a certain ally to urge you to get out and vote for me:
That's right. EneMan wants you to vote for Orac. Now. And every day until December 15.
After all, nothing says "award-winning medical blog" quite like a giant smiling enema bottle waving the American flag, don't you think?
Also, you wouldn't want to disappoint EneMan, would you?
Not to express overt bias or anything, but while a blog chronicling the ups and downs of weight loss may be inspirational, edutaining and all that, does it really qualify as a "medical" blog? By this standard, a blog consisting entirely of the subjective outcomes of lighting farts every day vis-a-vis dietary intake could be construed as a medical or even a straight chem/biochem blog. And believe me, the list can, and does, go on...
Go gettum Orac. You deserve to win. Your blog is too good to be beaten out by a diet blog. I agree with Kevin on this one.
Now tied, 349 even.
A vote for EneMan is a vote for ... ,well, let's say it involves cleaning!
Now tied at 354!
I agree, Kevin, it certainly doesn't qualify as a Medical blog. It must have marginally scraped in by the "Slash Health" part of the category name. I'm as baffled as you!
Best of luck to you, Orac!
I KNEW IT!
You were in the pockets of Big Pharma all along.
Enjoy your catered dinner as you learn about the latest in suppositories, because I ain't voting a pawn of "The Man" to a weblog award.
Let the diet blog win and vote against the evils of the pharmamedicogovernmental conspiracy.
When I voted a couple hours ago you were up by about 40. Keep it up.
You're still ahead, good luck!
I'm voting for you, of course, but the giant enema waving the American flag is a great temptation to make...comments about the US, enemas, and/or their similarities to one another.
Please take this comment in the light of respectful insolence...
I'm a big fan of the writing of Shauna Marsh (author of DietGirl) so of course I have a bias. I have checked out all the other blogs in the Med/Health Issues Catagory (yes, way too much time on my hands), including this blog. I know you want to win, but it is not fair to simply dismiss DietGirl as just a diet blog, implying it is not a worthy contender to your blog, or not suitable for the catagory of Med/Health Issues.
Heart disease is the number one killer of adults in the USA, UK and Australia.
Diet has a huge impact on heart disease.
Mental health issues are one of the major causes of sickness in the USA, UK and Australia today.
Diet and weight are often intrinsically linked to a healthy self-image and mental health.
Shauna addresses these issues in an entertaining and positive and informative way.
The diet blog is a worthy contender! Good luck to you all!
(ps 'COM THE FAT BLOG!!!)
(pps hope I don't have my stats wrong... I know the spot for number one killer is competed for by cigerettes, druck dickheads in vehicles, and Ronald McDonald...)
Okay,
710 for Orac
576 for DietGirl
Three days to go.
The suspense is tremendous. ;)
It looks like you've won it! Congratz, Orac!