Wampum: The 2005 Koufax Awards: Best Expert Blog

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As Dwight described when he opened nominations, this category "seeks to honor those who bring particular expertise, by way of knowledge, experience, or academic achievement, to a particular topic." As the years have passed, it's become more difficult to compile as many bloggers have essentially, through their own work and research, become the "experts" we know and trust for our information on important topics. However, outside of the blogosphere, the meaning of "expert" is more proscribed, and we've tended to use that concept here in the Koufax Awards.

So here they are. I tried, with some help on the scientific blogs (thanks Coturnix), to put up a general area of "expertise". However, if I'm off the mark substantially, please let me know in the Open Thread above.

ACSBlog (Constitutional Law)

Afarensis (Biology, anthropology, human evolution)

Americablog: John Arvosis (Journalism)

Angry Bear (Economics)

Arms Control Wonk: Jeffrey Lewis (WMD/National Security)

BagNewsNotes (Media images)

Balkanization (Constitutional Law)

Bitch Ph.D. (Academia/Gender)

Brad Blog: John Gideon (Voting)

Brad DeLong (Economics)

Circadiana (Chronobiology and sleep biology)

Cognitive Daily (Cognitive science)

Confined Space (Workplace safety)

Cosmic Variance (Physics, astrophysics)

The Dark Wraith Forums (Economics)

Daily Delay (Campaign finance and ethics)

The Decembrist: Mark Schmitt (Economics/Tax Policy)

Direland: Doug Ireland (Media and Journalism)

Donkey Rising: Ruy Teixeira (Democratic Politics)

East Ethnia (Balkans, sociology)

Effect Measure (Public health)

Export Control Blog: Scott Gearity (Export controls, embargo)

Feral Scholar: Stan Goff (Military, veterans)

Firedoglake (Law, Media)

Informed Comment: Juan Cole (Middle East policy)

Intel Dump (Military/Homeland Security)

Is That Legal?: Eric Muller (Law)

John Hawks (Anthropology, human evolution)

Keat's Telescope (Biology)

Language Log (Language usage)

Legal Fiction: Publius (Law)

Leiter Reports (Philosophy)

Lessig Blog (IP Law)

Living the Scientific Life (Evolution, ornithology)

The Loom (Evolution, science journalism)

Max Speak: Max Sawicky (Economics)

Media Matters (Media)

Mike The Mad Biologist (Evolution, microbiology)

Mixing Memory (Cognitive science)

Mystery Pollster (Polling)

Nathan Newman (Labor issues)

No Quarter: Larry Johnson (Terrorism/Security)

Orcinus: David Neiwert (US Hate Groups)

Panda's Thumb (Evolutionary Biology)

Peter Levine (US Policy)

Pharyngula: PZ Meyers (Evolutionary science)

POGO Blog (Government Oversight)

Real Climate (Climatology/Environment)

Sic Semper Tyrannis (U.S. Military Intelligence)

SyriaComment: Joshua Landis (Middle East policy)

Talk Left: Jeralyn Merritt (Law)

Texas Equity: Angela Valenzuela (Educational Equity & Policy)

Think Progress (Progressive Policy)

Thoughts From Kansas (Evolutionary biology)

Velvel on National Affairs: Lawrence R. Velvel (Law, national affairs)

Washington Note: Steve Clemmons (Political : journalism)

See those four squares in our logo? We call it the cursor, and like an old-school command prompt, it means we're awaiting input. current.tv

Comments

I have no shame. Pharyngula: PZ Meyers (Evolutionary science)

Posted by: PZ Myers | March 4, 2006 12:44 PM

I guess PZ and I are tied for first place... Mike the Mad Biologist (Evolution, Microbiology).

Posted by: Mike the Mad Biologist | March 4, 2006 12:56 PM

This is a tough category. I'll give it to Think Progress this year.

Posted by: Susan Nunes | March 4, 2006 01:09 PM

PZ probably wins this one. A terrific blog. I'll vote for a tragically under-recognized blog, however: Peter Levine.

Posted by: helmut | March 4, 2006 01:12 PM

Pharyngula!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Torris | March 4, 2006 01:14 PM

Lots of wonderful choices! My vote is for The Dark Wraith - he makes economics understandable!

Posted by: The Fat Lady Sings | March 4, 2006 02:38 PM

Pharyngula...most certainly...

Posted by: Deacon | March 4, 2006 02:52 PM

What would Pharyngula do?

(If everyone assumes he will win and votes for other people, PZ may be left in the Cole-d once again.)

Posted by: todd. | March 4, 2006 03:08 PM

Pharyngula with a wish that there were sub-categories for world affairs, economics, etc. so that I could vote for Informed Comment and Brad DeLong

Posted by: The Captain | March 4, 2006 03:26 PM

Pharyngula.

Posted by: Jamie | March 4, 2006 04:43 PM

for sport i will go to the other side of PZ land and cast my vote for Panda's Thumb

Posted by: spyder | March 4, 2006 05:08 PM

Pharyngula

Posted by: Peter | March 4, 2006 05:31 PM

Posted by: Mark H | March 4, 2006 06:14 PM

While I'd like to vote for Thoughts from Kansas, I feel oddly compelled to cast my vote for Pharyngula.

Posted by: Josh | March 4, 2006 06:21 PM

Posted by: Sine.Qua.Non | March 4, 2006 06:37 PM

Angry Bear

Posted by: ana | March 4, 2006 06:59 PM

Firedoglake

Posted by: Raybin | March 4, 2006 07:08 PM

Informed Comment

Posted by: Unstable Isotope | March 4, 2006 07:33 PM

Posted by: pinkko | March 4, 2006 07:47 PM

Nathan Newman

Posted by: eugene | March 4, 2006 08:13 PM

Pharyngula. Wish I'd had a prof like PZ back in the 80's--whole life woulda been different.

Posted by: Niobe | March 4, 2006 08:14 PM

Posted by: IAMB | March 4, 2006 08:25 PM

Posted by: oldwhitelady | March 4, 2006 08:38 PM

Posted by: Wren Dishon | March 4, 2006 08:40 PM

Posted by: Lexington | March 4, 2006 08:44 PM

Cosmic Variance

Posted by: MR | March 4, 2006 08:51 PM

Bitch PhD knows gender and work/life topics like no other.

Posted by: TD | March 4, 2006 09:02 PM

Effect Measure

Posted by: PSoTD | March 4, 2006 09:12 PM

Pharyngula!

Posted by: Madhusudan Katti | March 4, 2006 09:20 PM

Well, all the early votes for PZ are making my choice slightly easier, but not much.

David Neiwert at Orcinus.

Posted by: Chris Clarke | March 4, 2006 09:28 PM

Orcinus, though there's hardly anybody on that list I'd feel bad about voting for.

Posted by: Urizen | March 4, 2006 09:30 PM

Bitch Ph.D

Posted by: Maryscott O'Connor | March 4, 2006 09:31 PM

informed comment by juan cole

Posted by: wu ming | March 4, 2006 09:32 PM

Posted by: Minipundit | March 4, 2006 10:39 PM

Bitch, Ph.D.

Posted by: juile | March 4, 2006 10:41 PM

Well, it appears PZ will be in the finals so I can vote for him then. For now, let me push East Ethnia (Balkans, sociology).

Posted by: coturnix | March 4, 2006 10:57 PM

Arms Control Wonk

Posted by: Michael Roston | March 4, 2006 11:13 PM

bitch phd

Posted by: ben wolfson | March 4, 2006 11:15 PM

PZ will get it in the end, but I'm voting for myself as runner-up:

Bitch PhD

Posted by: bitchphd | March 4, 2006 11:21 PM

Posted by: Orange | March 4, 2006 11:34 PM

Posted by: taddyporter | March 4, 2006 11:38 PM

without question, it's Informed Comment

Posted by: sa | March 4, 2006 11:39 PM

Apples and oranges category! What's expert, and how do you tell the one from the other?

BPhD.

ash
['Da.']

Posted by: ash | March 4, 2006 11:43 PM

Posted by: sylvie | March 4, 2006 11:55 PM

Talk Left: Jeralyn Merritt

Posted by: beagleandtabby | March 4, 2006 11:55 PM

Bitch Ph.D.

Posted by: New Kid on the Hallway | March 5, 2006 12:04 AM

Another one of those awesome new blogs is The Washington Note by Steve Clemons. Insightful, with many exclusives. A great read.

Posted by: Sandia Blanca | March 5, 2006 12:16 AM

Posted by: heather | March 5, 2006 12:48 AM

firedoglake

Posted by: neurophius | March 5, 2006 01:00 AM

Apples, kumquats, and Dobermans. Shoot.

Pharygula.

Posted by: RBH | March 5, 2006 01:07 AM

Posted by: anonymous | March 5, 2006 02:07 AM

Firedoglake for the legal firepower of ReddHedd and many of the commentors who teach us constitutional law on the fly.

Posted by: siun | March 5, 2006 02:15 AM

I'm voting Pharyngula.

While we're at it, when the field is this packed, plurality vote makes no sense whatsoever. In the final vote I think approval will work best; in this round, I'm not so sure, considering that there's no good voting system for multiple-winner elections, though limited vote - the one you're using - is one of the least problematic.

Posted by: Alon Levy | March 5, 2006 02:31 AM

Posted by: shayera | March 5, 2006 02:39 AM

Posted by: dean | March 5, 2006 02:52 AM

Posted by: op99 | March 5, 2006 03:22 AM

Orcinus

Posted by: pansauce | March 5, 2006 03:27 AM

BitchPh.D.!

Shes good and she reaches out across ideology globally! She opinionated and shares her opinions in an articulate and decisive way. Shes far too relevant to be compared to the other categories. Sorry, the apples and oranges comparison comment has already been made.

Ok, said enough! Hope she has her speech ready :)

Posted by: shankari | March 5, 2006 03:52 AM

Posted by: radlib1 | March 5, 2006 03:56 AM

Posted by: SusanC | March 5, 2006 05:27 AM

Posted by: :-D | March 5, 2006 06:24 AM

Posted by: RH | March 5, 2006 08:01 AM

Best expert: Effect Measure

Posted by: Ron | March 5, 2006 08:42 AM

Posted by: Judi | March 5, 2006 09:02 AM

Media Matters

Posted by: Donna | March 5, 2006 09:38 AM

Effect Measure - Revere's explanations of how avian influenza works should be required reading for all Americans.

Posted by: Galen McBride | March 5, 2006 09:41 AM

Posted by: Dr. Brazen Hussy | March 5, 2006 09:46 AM

Like P.Z., I have no shame: Cognitive Daily

Perhaps voting for myself will start a groundswell resurgence
of votes for Cognitive Daily!

Posted by: Dave Munger | March 5, 2006 10:10 AM

Effect Measure.

Posted by: Dorothea | March 5, 2006 10:27 AM

Pharyngula!!!!

Posted by: rev.paperboy | March 5, 2006 10:42 AM

Posted by: Paul the Spud | March 5, 2006 10:56 AM

Lots of good ones, but Brad DeLong is a clear #1 to me. (I would say that PZ is #2, with a closely-bunched field for #3.)

Posted by: Joe S. | March 5, 2006 10:58 AM

Pharyngula, of course.

Posted by: Rahel | March 5, 2006 10:59 AM

Posted by: meow | March 5, 2006 11:00 AM

Posted by: egregious | March 5, 2006 11:03 AM

Posted by: Rob | March 5, 2006 11:30 AM

Balkinization

Posted by: theologicus | March 5, 2006 11:33 AM

Posted by: Joel | March 5, 2006 11:45 AM

Posted by: leslie | March 5, 2006 11:55 AM

Posted by: slovenia | March 5, 2006 11:57 AM

I have to go with Firedoglake on this one, even though I am still pissed at Jane for not joining in the HR 550 blogswarm. Damn! I thought I was past that. Jane, it isn't you; it's me.

Anyway, their analysis on legal matters is exceptional, and what their coverage of the Fitzgerald investigation was phenomenal and far more interesting and detailed than the so-called professionals.

Posted by: DBK | March 5, 2006 12:02 PM

Nine out of ten vertebrates agree -- Pharyngula.

Posted by: Steven Hart | March 5, 2006 12:18 PM

Posted by: Tanya | March 5, 2006 12:28 PM

Dark Wraith Forums

Making economics understandable, informative, and sexy.

Who knew?!?

Posted by: Missouri Mule | March 5, 2006 01:03 PM

Informed Comment: Juan Cole

Posted by: Matt | March 5, 2006 01:35 PM

Mike the Mad Biologist

Posted by: Gina | March 5, 2006 02:07 PM

effect measure

Posted by: Student | March 5, 2006 02:11 PM

Posted by: Ren� | March 5, 2006 02:18 PM

Posted by: Meredith | March 5, 2006 02:25 PM

Posted by: tw | March 5, 2006 02:28 PM

Media Matters.

Posted by: Charlotte Smith | March 5, 2006 02:56 PM

firedoglake - i always learn something there

Posted by: mustang sally | March 5, 2006 02:57 PM

David N at Orcinus--by the tiniest margin over BitchPhD and Juan Cole.

Posted by: Geoff | March 5, 2006 03:07 PM

Brad Blog's focus on vote rigging is heroic. He's a lone voice in the woods and we can only hope that his message finally finds resonance with the public.

Posted by: TF-MA | March 5, 2006 04:35 PM

Pharyngula: PZ Meyers
despite the fact that he has no shame...

Posted by: robd | March 5, 2006 04:56 PM

Peter Levine

Posted by: Diane C. Russell | March 5, 2006 04:59 PM

Effect Measure - rant-free and fact-full; most consistent and genuinely left perspective on public policy of perhaps any blog in the category. Redeems the much abused words "public", "education" and "expert" day after day.

Posted by: Tarka | March 5, 2006 05:36 PM

Posted by: Matt B. | March 5, 2006 05:47 PM

Posted by: Theophrastus Bombastus von Hoehenheim den Sidste | March 5, 2006 06:07 PM

Cosmic Variance.

Posted by: P.P. Cook | March 5, 2006 06:08 PM

Posted by: djn | March 5, 2006 06:09 PM

Decembrist

Posted by: Elizabeth | March 5, 2006 06:12 PM

Pharungula and The Loom tie.

Posted by: John Wilkins | March 5, 2006 06:14 PM

Posted by: Al-Muhajabah | March 5, 2006 06:25 PM

Seems it does not have many chances, but I give my vote to Cosmic Variance

Posted by: Alejandro | March 5, 2006 06:40 PM

Language Log: although it may not have all the erotic content of Pharyngula, it's generally fascinating in other ways.

Posted by: reiii | March 5, 2006 06:48 PM

Posted by: Anonymous | March 5, 2006 07:20 PM

Posted by: jt from BC | March 5, 2006 08:08 PM

In a stunning surprise, I vote for Cosmic Variance.

Posted by: Mark | March 5, 2006 08:21 PM

David Neiwert @ Orinus...It appears Mr Neiwert has a grass roots somewhat organic understanding of the current Neo-Nazis Christian /Right hate movements that have grown out of his native North West. He posesses a keen insight into the hate and inhumanity of these people, as he simultaneously disects the culture of this human condition. Although his revelations are nothing short of inauspicious, he attacks the problems directly and reminds us indifference is as guilty a tool that may be found in any hatemonger's bag.

Posted by: Anonymous | March 5, 2006 08:35 PM

My vote goes to ArmsControlWonk.com

Posted by: Pavel | March 5, 2006 08:43 PM

Posted by: Jeff Chamberlain | March 5, 2006 09:30 PM

This is hard!

Posted by: mcubed | March 5, 2006 09:52 PM

Posted by: Laura | March 5, 2006 09:56 PM

Living the Scientific Life.

Posted by: afarensis | March 5, 2006 10:50 PM

Dark Wraith Forums- also deserving of far wider recognition, in my humble opinion.

Posted by: hangtown | March 5, 2006 11:38 PM

Posted by: iao | March 5, 2006 11:39 PM