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April 24, 2008
Piss Drunk
Vintage Stantis today. Vintage Stantis.
"Global temperatures have not risen since 1998," Carmen proclaims, while the strip's author pulls a Bruce Tinsley and footnotes the claim, sourcing to the "BBC." (How specific!)
But here's where it gets interesting. A Google search for "global temperatures have not risen since 1998" yields many fascinating results, the first of which is an article from the BBC, which claims:
But [2008]'s temperatures would still be way above the average - and we would soon exceed the record year of 1998 because of global warming induced by greenhouse gases.The WMO points out that the decade from 1998 to 2007 was the warmest on record. Since the beginning of the 20th Century, the global average surface temperature has risen by 0.74C.
Seems pretty straightforward. 1998-2007 was the warmest decade on record. And 2008 could be the warmest yet "because of global warming induced greenhouse gases."
So why does Stantis seem to come to the OPPOSITE conclusion using the same set of facts, and possibly the same article?
I'll tell you why. Because he didn't use that same article as his source. He used some re-written, hackjob piece, which is the second Google hit.
Notice how it so artfully claims, "Source: BBC News" -- and it links to the actual article discussed above. But it completely re-interprets the facts. 1998 was a 'record year,' in terms of global temperatues. Therefore, that means that no year has been as hot as 1998! THEREFORE, global warming is a left-wing, media-propagated myth that we must expose as a fraud!
And then notice how all the other hits on the Google search are right-leaning blog posts (including Glenn fucking Beck), which, I'm sure, are using the re-written and mis-interpreted "BBC" article, and not the actual source material.
This is what informs their world. This is how people like Scott Stantis stay informed.
And then on top of that nonsense to throw in an Al Gore crack which is pushing 10 years old?
As I said: Vintage Stantis. Alas, this vintage -- which from the very beginning in 2004 was vile and medicinal, with hints of sour grapes and bitter dirt -- is now way past the point of drinking; it is just pure piss and shit.
Comments
Nice work, CJo. I like how Republicans - now responsible for this monstrous deficit and debt and claim social security is bankrupt - still make jokes about the lock box, which in hindsight was a great idea. Nope, let's get rid of the box and give tax cuts to rich people! Yeah, that's the ticket!
Posted by: The Furnace at April 24, 2008 10:38 AM
I look forward to the Ben Stein film decrying this scientific 'hoax.'
Posted by: Sacki at April 24, 2008 11:51 AM
