All commenced out, and a lightning-fast Molly


It was commencement weekend here in lovely Morris, Minnesota, and I spent yesterday in a funny outfit posing for parents and going to commencement parties, and this morning was spent ferrying #2 Son to the Twin Cities for his long bus ride back to Madison. It’s time to buckle down and finish my grading now.

But on a happy note, I think we can safely close the nominations for this month’s Molly already: it’s a landslide, and I don’t think Kenny has a chance of catching up, and also we should celebrate the winner’s birthday somehow. The Molly for May 2008 goes to Etha Williams.

Comments

  1. says

    Kenny’s only chance of getting a Molly would be if he changed his name to ynneK. As it is, the best he could possibly hope for would be an ylloM. On the other hand, the latter would be welle deserved.

    Congrats, Etha!

  2. BobbyEarle says

    I am very happy for Etha, and certainly do hope she stays here for a very long time.

    Congratulations and the very best of returns!

  3. Patricia C. says

    Congrats Etha! Huzzah!
    Kenny could have won – if only gawd willed it.

  4. says

    Thanks for the birthday wishes and congratulations. I do feel a bit bad for stealing the Molly from Kenny though. As he so rightly pointed out, this is where it all starts…atheists getting awards instead of strong Christians, then when Christians speak out against this they will be mocked at first and then put in the dungeon for being hateful and later on be put to death.

  5. says

    I’m a little confused about this commencement thing.

    How can you have commencement when you haven’t even finished grading?

  6. Benjamin Franklin says

    Congrats now to Etha with Molly
    It’ll make her posts even more jolly
    In squidworld, where PZ’s the King
    Pharyngulites shout out and sing
    While we all laugh at Kenny’s great folly

  7. says

    Well done, Etha!

    It’s just a bit discouraging (for me, not you!) to consider that, if you keep on kicking ass in the same way for the next 21 years of your life, you’ll still be younger than I am now.

  8. Bride of Shrek says

    Congratulations to the evogangsta. Well deserved. Makes me wish I was more like her 15 years ago at 20 instead of dicking around partying, drinking too much, marrying wanker first husbands and generally mucking about the world. Somehow I get the feeling Etha is waaaayyyyyy smarter than that.

  9. DingoDave says

    Congratulations Etha. Well deserved.

    I just popped over to your blog for a look. Very good!
    On your blog you have posted a video clip of the ‘Christians United For Israel’ conference, hosted by the odious Ted Hagee. It is one of the scariest things I have seen for a very long time.
    Perhaps you or PZ could re-post it here on Pharyngula. In my opinion, it deserves as wide an audience as possible.
    What a bunch of ‘demented fuckwits'(trademark), or should I say deluded fuckwits! (Shiver)
    Link to video: http://jeanneshade.blogspot.com/2008/05/terrifying-religious-insanity.html

  10. Carlie says

    Congrats to Etha – came in roaring hot, and I’m looking forward to reading more from you.

  11. paragwinn says

    Congratulations, Etha, and Happy Birthday!

    #10: “when Christians speak out against this they will be mocked at first and then put in the dungeon”

    hmmm…a basis for a new RPG called ‘Dungeons and Christians’?

  12. says

    hmmm…a basis for a new RPG called ‘Dungeons and Christians’?

    DM: “You open the door and enter the room. It is small and devoid of charm, with tacky figurines of angels and cherubs everywhere. The only book in evidence is an old, dusty, but barely-used tome supporting the flat screen television. You can barely make out the letters ‘CS L?wis’ along its spine. A man steps out of a dark corner and looks at you with dull eyes. His ‘BJU Alumnus’ sweatshirt identifies him as a level 2 theologian. Obviously terrified by your presence, he stands his ground and addresses you:
    ‘Nothing can come into existence of its own accord, thus the universe must have had a designer, even if we can never infer what that designer is. Plus, what about the Shroud of Turin?'”

    PC: “Can I kill myself now or do I have to roll initiative?”

    Congratulations, Etha.

  13. cicely says

    *applause* Way to go, Etha!

    And, Brownian, kudos for the RPG teaser. I nearly drowned myself snortling my Coke.

  14. MAJeff, OM says

    Is PZ doing meth or something to get the Molly turned around that fast?

    Congratulations, Etha.

  15. says

    @#28 Brownian —

    I love the RPG. The question, though, is what alignment the theologians would be. I’m thinking lawful evil…or maybe just neutral stupid.

  16. Epikt says

    Brownian, OM:

    hmmm…a basis for a new RPG called ‘Dungeons and Christians’?

    DM: “You open the door and enter the room. It is small and devoid of charm, with tacky figurines of angels and cherubs everywhere.
    (snip)

    “On the wall to your right, there is a switchplate in the image of jesus, with an oddly-placed protrusion.”

  17. says

    Brownian said: “Can I kill myself now or do I have to roll initiative?”

    Ha! I want that on a t-shirt…

  18. JJR says

    Ironically, that funny outfit (for you and the students) has ecclesiastical origins, from the days when the universities were all medieval church institutions. Not that I’d change any of it (in fashion and design I’m a stodgy traditionalist), it’s just an interesting historical footnote.

    I just got back from our local springtime North Texas RenFest, colloquially called Scarborough Faire. I skipped on wearing my Kilt, as I didn’t have a suitable highland shirt to put on with it; With matching tartan tie and button-down white shirt, I’d look far too modern–or at least 19th century–to fit in. I made due with a Scotland t-shirt and camo shorts and birkenstock-esque knock-offs.

    I enjoyed the Doktor Kaboom science show, and the irreverent Nuns show.

    I picked up a suitable Highland shirt for next year, so I can get more in the spirit of things.
    I had a good time and enjoyed it for reasons I only vaguely understood as a teenager at the other major RenFest in Plantersville, Tx (which is in the Fall), namely all the scantily clad women in suggestive period (and fantasy) garb.
    A true feast for the eyes. Much more attention grabbing for me now than all the competing distractions I had as a AD&D and Monty Python obsessed teenager.

  19. Leigh says

    Many happy returns, Etha. You give me hope for the future of our country.

    I look forward to reading your blog.

  20. Kseniya says

    “On the wall to your right, there is a switchplate in the image of jesus, with an oddly-placed protrusion.” ~ Posted by: Epikt

    Now that is funny!

    8з))

  21. Owlmirror says

    I demand a recount.

    ::doubtfully:: I think the moral equivalent of “hanging chad” around here is
    Error 500 – Internal Server Error“.

    But the only butterfly “ballots” were about polyphenisms and gynandromorphs.

    OK, that was far too much effort to make a lame joke.

  22. Yoeruek says

    Congratulations and three cheers for Etha!

    Have You thought of retirement, now that You´ve got all?
    No, I was just kidding.
    Keep on blogging/posting/commenting. It´s a pleasure reading when You´re around.

    Yoeruek

  23. Kseniya says

    Don’t kid, Yoeruek! Molly winners have a history of drifting off, and less Etha would be doubleplusungood.

  24. sphex says

    Congratulations, Etha! Well deserved indeed.

    Pharyngula: Come for PZ, stay for the brilliant commenters.

  25. says

    neutral stupid.

    chaotic neutral stupid, more like.

    This is one case when alignment should be a straitjacket, not a tool.

    Actual straitjackets, of course.