[Off-topic] mengo_:
insulting?...is that all you can say...cause you're taught in school about that and any other opinion is a crime. ...I cant believe how quick you guys get insulted over talk about pressing matters , when you DirkGently as an European and a citizen of the EU should be insulted about how we are pounded by regulations and eco-taxes as if Europe is to carry the shame and responsibility for the rest of the world as the most developed and enlightened ... no thanks we've got enough problems trying to survive as it is without green parties leaking tax payer money into their delusional (and purposely slow paced) campaigns - there are so many new and efficient fossil fuel and alternative energy engines but it's enough for them to talk about the CARBON GUILT and DEBT instead of actually adequately financing those projects so that finally some results show up (for example major city bus lines could initially be refurbished to be more efficient and environment-friendly, public transport like trains then lorries and other goods transports... if there were the actual will to do so not just idle talk,- that's how I see it)

2. scientist ... still even if not from the field. as such you are expected to have a broader understanding of natural processes and a good deal of healthy skepticism. if you've seen the interview your argument probably is that the person that speaks on their behalf is a professor in optics and not a climatologist, but don't worry more scientist will speak out soon , the dogma has so hard been rooted in that or they it actually takes a lot of courage (and anger to deal with all the blind defenders of the "hypothesis") to try and go against the current are maybe scared , most of them also mislead and will go to the extend to disregard any obvious signs for the sake of keeping the dogma (when you are normal and everyone around you is crazy is better you are the one viewed as the crazy...simple analogy don't delve into it)

3. like I say they are the first . more will come as the promised Warming doesn't show any time soon. besides they are not a bunch of backwater conspiracy theorists we're talking about people in leading scientific positions here....mainly astrophysicists, many of who believe me, take it as an INSULT that people only see the short term picture and are neglecting all the evidence that something is wrong with this short term interpretation.

4. the last solar maximum (23 rd solar cycle and overlapping century's maximum) were around 2002-2004.... there is NOT going to be any Natural Warming happening in the near future after that. (or did the media and your book not tell you about that....oh yeah they are calling it climate CHANGE now..)

...anyway the cycle of warming - i stated it in my post to show the excuse where all that global warming nonsense came from, because someone (al gore???) saw the up-going trend and made the "educated" conclusion that it's going to last forever and there is $$$ to be made if you find someone to blame for it.

the metaphor with the burning house isn't very adequate because the house isn't burning (let's say it's just an ending hot summer) and the fuel we are throwing in itself isn't causing the hotness. (***mark here that i'm NOT saying the fuel isn't primitive, smelly, toxic, polluting and old fashioned and that i'm trying to somehow protect those who harvest, sell it and send thousands to wage war and die for it)