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Blogging Humor Science

Almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades (and thermonuclear weapons)

This week’s issue of Nature features a list of the top five science blogs, based on Technorati rankings for number of incoming links, narrowly defining its science blogs as blogs written by working scientists.

Not surprisingly, a ScienceBlogs blog Pharyngula came out on top at number one, followed by that stalwart resource for information about evolution and the debunking of creationism, The Panda’s Thumb. Coming in at number five is new ScienceBlog The Scientific Activist. Not a bad showing at all, with seven of the top ten science blogs belonging to the ScienceBlogs collective, particularly given ScienceBlogs’ representation by Carl Zimmer’s The Loom in a separate list of the top five blogs by science writers.

So who’s number six?

That’s right, baby, Orac is number six—almost in the top five–with another fellow ScienceBlogger, Tara Smith right behind at number seven and other ScienceBlogs Cognitive Daily and Effect Measure behind her.

But, being the hard-driving surgeon, is that good enough? Of course not! Orac will not stop until the entire world is Respectfully Insolent™ (either that, or until he either dies, his job forces him to give up blogging, or he decides to be like Sherwin Nuland and start writing books or something).

But how can I break into the top five?

An old Star Trek episode comes to mind. Remember how officers advanced in the evil version of the Federation in Mirror, Mirror?

No need to worry, though, Nick. No need at all. I’m just kidding.

Really.

Trust me, I’m a surgeon. My blades are only used to heal.

Or maybe I just need to get off my duff and start writing more additions to my Medicine and Evolution series. It’s been a while.

By Orac

Orac is the nom de blog of a humble surgeon/scientist who has an ego just big enough to delude himself that someone, somewhere might actually give a rodent's posterior about his copious verbal meanderings, but just barely small enough to admit to himself that few probably will. That surgeon is otherwise known as David Gorski.

That this particular surgeon has chosen his nom de blog based on a rather cranky and arrogant computer shaped like a clear box of blinking lights that he originally encountered when he became a fan of a 35 year old British SF television show whose special effects were renowned for their BBC/Doctor Who-style low budget look, but whose stories nonetheless resulted in some of the best, most innovative science fiction ever televised, should tell you nearly all that you need to know about Orac. (That, and the length of the preceding sentence.)

DISCLAIMER:: The various written meanderings here are the opinions of Orac and Orac alone, written on his own time. They should never be construed as representing the opinions of any other person or entity, especially Orac's cancer center, department of surgery, medical school, or university. Also note that Orac is nonpartisan; he is more than willing to criticize the statements of anyone, regardless of of political leanings, if that anyone advocates pseudoscience or quackery. Finally, medical commentary is not to be construed in any way as medical advice.

To contact Orac: [email protected]

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