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We’re #1! We’re #1! How is this possible? Or is it?

This can’t be right. As I was perusing the blog a little while ago, I noticed this:

i-1acbff624b47b6b77c8411004f792b18-number1.jpg

That can’t be right, can it? This blog can’t be number one by any measure, be it the Healthcare100.com or anything else. It has to be a bug in the software. Top ten, I can believe. Number one, not so much.

But then, this blog passed the 5,000,000 mark a few weeks ago, and I didn’t even notice. I must be getting jaded. Either that, or I’m full of crap with false modesty. Take your pick.

And I do think there must be a bug in the software somewhere to let me hit number one. I expect that the error will be fixed any day now.

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]

27 replies on “We’re #1! We’re #1! How is this possible? Or is it?”

Congratulations, Dave.

I certainly disagree with most of your posts about complementary medicine but I have learned more from my time here than from any other internet site. The sheer volume of your writing amazes me and you’ve gathered a group of really fine minds in the comments section

Here’s to the next 5,000,000!

Best,

Jay

Modesty, schmodesty, you’ve earned some recognition! You do outstanding work whacking the woo, and it’s time the whole world knew it! You’re always #1 to us, so forgive us a lack of surprise if others find you #1, too. 😉

See you at 10,000,000!

Either that, or I’m full of crap with false modesty.

Who am I to judge the sincerity of a lucite box full of blinkenlichten?

As for #1 — keep going, you can make it to zero!

Congratulations to Orac. I’m also one who sometimes disagrees but has learned much. I find it curious that Joseph Mercola’s blog or the health blogs at Huffington Post are not mentioned in the top 100. Could there be some ideological bias involved?

Well,*I* can believe you made it to #1. While the science writing is technically brilliant, it never fails to express a human concern for the needs of the audience, patients, or people in general.I once had a teacher who told me that my writing “should sound like me”:I don’t actually “know” you,but I’ll bet you have achieved that – sounding “like yourself”.Oh, and you’re “fun”.

Posted by: John | September 16, 2009 11:07 AM

well, if you consider bias against idiocy to be ideological bias, then perhaps you’re correct to suspect such

First time commenter, long time lurker –

Congrats! I love this blog. I never comment but I read you all the time and forward my favorite posts to friends and family.

Keep up the good work.

Congratulations! You and your regular contributors deserve it. If they are basing it on hits to the site, then you got me in your corner. I keep coming back to the site many many times a day for quick reads of the latest info and save several posts and links. Thanks.

Enjoy being #1! Congrats! Your blog is informative, interesting, sometimes fun, and has Hitler Zombie when necessary (though I think he burst from recent events…).

Yeah, I think the Hitler Zombie needs to go back into his crypt for a while. A long while.

With opponents of health care reform likening Obama’s proposals to the T4 euthanasia program and Obama to Hitler, what once would have been fine fodder for an HZ post has now become so commonplace that I could write an HZ post every day if I wanted to. Worse, if you go back into the archives, the examples that I made fun of a mere year or two ago, with only a couple of exceptions, aren’t as crazy as what we see in the news every day.

I fear the Hitler Zombie’s time may have past.

I read your blog every time I can get online, for a dose of sanity.

It’s also where I send all my fellow new mums when they have been scared away from vaccinating their kids by the vocal tosspots that like to hang out at prenatal groups spreading their poison. The “Why We Vaccinate” link that you posted a few months ago has been most valuable.

Keep up the good works,

Aunty B

Well done, friend Orac!

I rarely comment here, but visiting RI is part of my daily routine, and I know I am not the only one.

Congratulations Orac! Now the world knows what we’ve always known. You have always been Number 1. Five-million? “To infinity and beyond!!!”

Wow, you even beat Awful Plastic Surgery!

You’ve certainly earned this. I imagine you’ve put enough time into this blog to get another PhD, or two. You post often and you don’t post crap.

When you achieve both the 10mil. mark and retain #1 status, I hope you’ll ditch the modest route for something a bit more insufferable!

Great work and keep it up!

Your collusion with the Sith Lords of Big Pharma is finally paying off!!
(P.S. When you get one of those cool red double-bladed light sabers, you have GOT to post a video of yourself waving it around.)

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