Josh sends this cartoon along (and now an updated version) in reference to Paleoscientist: Mann’s recent work was a ‘crock of xxxx’
Philip Bratby was the inspiration with this comment at BH:
“More politely known as “a pile of poo”, the term “a crock of shit” derives from an ancient Roman custom that coincidentally took place in Roman times. It referred literally to a pot into which people would excrete if they were particularly bored by whichever freelance philosoper happened to be talking rubbish at the time. The Roman empire employed crock-monitors who were each assigned to a philosopher, and it was their job to monitor the pot (or crock). Should the crock become full, it would be presented to the philospher, who was obliged, by law, to announce that it bore a remarkable resemblance to himself, thus proclaiming he was full of crap and was, in fact, talking a crock of shit.
“I am talking a crock of shit”, Socrates 429 BC”
Has anyone done more to undermine CAGW theory than Michael Mann?
Give him a Noble Prize! (A real one this time.)
Only one critique. Mann’s crock was made of wood. 😎
OOPS! Sorry, Josh. I missed your point.
A dog smells his own. If only Mann would!
Brilliant!
For Mann it was crocks full of compensation (perks, grants, tenured position, speaking fees, awards . . . . ).
John
cautionary note, I’m pretty sure there is no historical basis for the Urban Dictionary’s tale of the origins of crock of poo. It’s just something made up by U.D. Socrates was Greek not Roman!
I can’t find any earlier source than the U.D. and I’ve never heard of such a thing despite studying quite a bit of ancient thought in translation. Still an entertaining tale, but view it with much skepticism…..
If it is a Roman custom, why a quote from a Greek?
Now we are getting to the real bottom of the CAGW “theory” matter! 😉
Always wondered where all of that mysterious “adjustment” crap came from.
What device would one use to stir a crock of XXXX?
A Crockey Stick, of course.
The quoted comment (lifted from http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=crock%20of%20shit ) looks like a crock of shit to me. While Socrates was alive in Attic Greece 429BC, this predates the Roman empire by a couple of centuries.
Don’t you all think you’re being a bit unfair to the crock of xxxx? What did it ever do to deserve being compared to Mann’s work?
We have the BS, the MS, the PHD, and now the COS!! A new degree for only those who excel in filling crocks should pursue…
Too bad there are no Nobel prizes for it. He’d be a shoo-in for the Nobel Crock Prize. It would look rather nice alongside his self-awarded Nobel Peace Prize.
Great cartoon, Josh. But Mr. Mann gets waaaayyyy too much attention. LOL!
Urban Dictionary isn’t meant to be serious. It stems from “urban legend”, so often publicizes creative folk etymologies without any basis other than imagination.
But you probably all already knew that. So while UD’s definition of CoS is itself a crock, it still made for a good & apt cartoon.
Time for a cartoon of a scrawny, bearded, shoeless indian wearing a dhoti straddling a train and pointing vaguely at a cloud in the sky. Readers can choose their own words to accompany.
An interesting character, Mann. A giant in his field – posing with tree trunks- and yet a midget in every other regard. Of course he can’t help the fact that he is only 3’9″ tall or that he looks malevolent. This could befall anybody. He makes it worse for himself and lessens goodwill by writing incoherent and bad-tempered books which make people who would otherwise be sympathetic to his ghastly appearance want to dropkick him out the nearest window. I have refrained from this. So far.
Don’t know who wrote this originally, it has been around for a long time. It only just now struck me how much it resembles the sh*t dressed up as science that somehow makes it into reporting of facts by those who don’t have a clue:
In the beginning was the PLAN
And then came THE ASSUMPTIONS
And the assumptions were without form
And the plan was completely without substance;
And darkness was upon the faces of the employees
And they spoke amongst themselves, saying,
“IT IS A CROCK OF SH*T AND IT STINKS!”
And the employees went unto their supervisors saying, “It is a pail of dung and
none may abide the odor thereof.”
And the supervisors went unto their managers saying, “It is a container of
excrement and it is very strong such that none may abide by it.”
And the managers went unto their directors saying, “It is a vessel of fertilizer
and none may abide its strength.”
And the directors went unto their executive directors saying, “It contains that
which aids plant growth and is very strong.”
And the executive directors went unto the general manager saying, “It promotes
growth and is very powerful.”
And the general manager went unto the Board of Directors saying, “This new plan
will actively promote growth and efficiency of this organization and these areas
in particular.”
And the Board of Directors looked upon the plan and saw that it was good and the
plan became policy.
This is how sh*t happens!
I’m confused!
Are we mixing up Pooh-Sticks with Hockey-Sticks or have we just gone a bridge too far?
Always remember some crocks are more equal than others-
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/policy/direct-action-dangerous-nsw-bushfires-linked-to-climate-change-un/story-e6frg6xf-1226744247249
But it does require a certain intellectual nose to discern these matters of great import-
http://www.news.com.au/national-news-2/academic-toilet-paper-opens-doors-on-dunny-business/story-e6frfkvr-1226266176545
Be careful boys and girls:
“Strong minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, weak minds discuss people.”
― Socrates
davidmhoffer says:
October 21, 2013 at 4:40 pm
================================================================
I have a government job.
Now I understand!
Perhaps Mann could be nominated for an Ig Nobel Prize?
http://www.improbable.com/ig/winners/
milodon: “So while UD’s definition of CoS is itself a crock, it still made for a good & apt cartoon.”
True. But on balance it sounds like a more effective way of dealing with ballot issues than the current manner. Such as selecting politicians, determining consensus, or peer review.