There is a nice repudiation by Tamino at Open Mind of the current round of stories announcing the “cooling trend” in global average temperatures. (Thx Jim Eager for noticing.)

Tamino concludes that the deniers are right: it was cooler in 2008 than in 2007 – which is a variation – but inexorably warmer over the last century – which is the trend.

When people ignore this longterm direction, choosing instead to pick the high point (perhaps 1998) and then claim a decline in average temperature, Tamino keeps an open mind about whether that is a reflection of dishonesty or stupidity.

In this, however, stupidity should not be a defence. It’s bullshit, even if the liar is delusional rather than dishonest.