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.
Petter Hesselberg 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!
Petter Hesselberg says
Eh. “welle” –> “well”.
Hank Fox says
Congratulations, Etha! A well-deserved honor.
Falyne says
Huzzah! Huzzah! ^_^
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!
Patricia C. says
Congrats Etha! Huzzah!
Kenny could have won – if only gawd willed it.
spgreenlaw says
Congratulations Etha! This blog and everyone who reads it are lucky to have you around.
Avekid says
Congrats, Etha, and happy birthday!
Zeno says
Many and effusive felicitations, Etha!
Etha Williams 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.
mezzobuff says
Happy Birthday Etha and congrats!
Larry Moran says
I’m a little confused about this commencement thing.
How can you have commencement when you haven’t even finished grading?
Rev. BigDumbChimp says
Congrats Etha!
PZ Myers says
Some students may be getting a nasty retroactive surprise. It adds to the fun!
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
brokenSoldier says
Congrats, Etha! Well-deserved, indeed.
MIkeG says
Well earned, Etha. Congrats.
And happy belated birthday.
Mrs Tilton 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.
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.
slang says
Congrats Etha, and with #10 you prove it well-deserved again :)
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
Carlie says
Congrats to Etha – came in roaring hot, and I’m looking forward to reading more from you.
DingoDave says
Correction to comment #21:
Should read ‘John Hagee’.
Sili says
Yaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy!!!
Dennis N says
Congrats
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’?
Mike Haubrich, FCD says
Way cool, Etha and well-deserved. (Don’t forget to append the honorific “OM” on your posts from here on in.)
Brownian, OM 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.
cicely says
*applause* Way to go, Etha!
And, Brownian, kudos for the RPG teaser. I nearly drowned myself snortling my Coke.
MAJeff, OM says
Is PZ doing meth or something to get the Molly turned around that fast?
Congratulations, Etha.
Etha Williams 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.
Epikt says
Brownian, OM:
“On the wall to your right, there is a switchplate in the image of jesus, with an oddly-placed protrusion.”
Efrique says
Brownian said: “Can I kill myself now or do I have to roll initiative?”
Ha! I want that on a t-shirt…
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.
Monado, FCD says
Better yet, go over to Etha’s blog and read the whole thing! There’s lots of good stuff.
Ichthyic says
neutral stupid.
chaotic neutral stupid, more like.
Nancy says
Congratulations, Etha!!
Owlmirror says
No, no. The PC casts Wu Wei (see Dresden Codak’s Dungeons and Discourse).
The Apologist has been vanquished.
Sili says
The Cosmos at large keeps conspiring to make me read Dresden Codak, I see.
Kseniya says
I demand a recount.
Leigh says
Many happy returns, Etha. You give me hope for the future of our country.
I look forward to reading your blog.
Kseniya says
Now that is funny!
8з))
Owlmirror says
::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.
Dana Hunter says
Go, Etha! Richly deserved! Bravo!
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
Kseniya says
Don’t kid, Yoeruek! Molly winners have a history of drifting off, and less Etha would be doubleplusungood.
sphex says
Congratulations, Etha! Well deserved indeed.
Pharyngula: Come for PZ, stay for the brilliant commenters.
Brownian, OM says
This is one case when alignment should be a straitjacket, not a tool.
Actual straitjackets, of course.
Rev. BigDumbChimp says
*shudder
Now that is frightening. PZ on meth.
Rev. BigDumbChimp says
pfft. stupid block quote tag
*kicks his keyboard