text: Even though his work was as dodgy as anyones I feel sorry for Briffa at times. He appears to develop a kind of Stockholm Syndrome towards the hectoring Mann. In his heart he is well aware of the flaws in Manns research and in the early years he is capable of mutiny. 1024334440 , 2002. I am sick to death of Mann stating his reconstruction represents the tropical area just because it contains a few (poorly temperature representative ) tropical series. He is just as capable of regressing these data again any other target series , such as the increasing trend of self-opinionated verbage he has produced over the last few years , and (better say no more). Cook sympathises: Of course, I agree with you. We both know the probable flaws in Mikes recon, particularly as it relates to the tropical stuff. It is puzzling to me that a guy as bright as Mike would be so unwilling to evaluate his own work a bit more objectively.