2.14.2010

Jounamalism

Via.

Step 1, scientist answers serious questions seriously:
B - Do you agree that from 1995 to the present there has been no statistically-significant global warming

Yes, but only just. I also calculated the trend for the period 1995 to 2009. This trend (0.12C per decade) is positive, but not significant at the 95% significance level. The positive trend is quite close to the significance level. Achieving statistical significance in scientific terms is much more likely for longer periods, and much less likely for shorter periods.
Step 2, wingnut tabloid writes headline:
Climategate U-turn as scientist at centre of row admits: There has been no global warming since 1995
Step 3, wingnut bloggers run with it:
The entire theory of anthropogenic global warming is built off data that is conveniently lost. We’re supposed to just believe even though there has been no actual warming in 15 years. We’re supposed to just submit to radical social engineering experiments based on our trust in scientists who have been actively lying to us for the past decade and a half.