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« David Holland in Quadrant | Main | McIntyre on RC on BH »
Monday
Jul262010

HSI in Quadrant magazine

John Dawson reviews The Hockey Stick Illusion in Australia's Quadrant magazine.

The Hockey Stick Illusion is the shocking story of a graph called the Hockey Stick. It is also a textbook of tree ring analysis, a code-breaking adventure, an intriguing detective story, an exposé of a scientific and political travesty, and the tale of a herculean struggle between a self-funded sceptic and a publicly funded hydra, all presented in the measured style of an analytical treatise.

Read the whole thing.

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Reader Comments (64)

Don Pablo de la Sierra

"Sadly true. While it would be nice to take politics out of this, as Dung demanded, not all see it that way."

But take the politics out of this and what do you have? Some thoroughly slapdash research which would likely never have gained prominence and a ridiculous faith in computer models. It was because it fitted a political agenda and helped shape the agenda (or rather a coalition of agendas) that it's gained the support it's enjoyed and is being defended as it is.

Jul 26, 2010 at 8:15 PM | Unregistered Commentercosmic

An absolutely terrific review. FWIW, if all Jerry is saying is that it's a pity the review didn't appear in a left-wing media outlet, I'd agree with that. It wouldn't change the truth of the matter one iota, but in a left-wing publication, it would be a. more likely to be read by those who most need to read it, and b. more likely to be given at least some degree of serious consideration by them.

Unfortunately, of course, there's about as much chance of the Guardian and its ilk publishing something like this as hell freezing over. The thesis would ideally be nailed to the Guardian door, but if the bouncer prevents that, what choice is there but to nail it to Quadrant's?

Jul 26, 2010 at 8:23 PM | Unregistered CommenterMichael larkin

I will speculate here that even if a journalist of a left-wing newspaper or weekly did read the book in its entirety, and thoroughly understood it, and did write a proper review, stll it wouldn't be published.

The editor would say something like this: "Whether your review is accurate or not is not the point. We'd lose even more of our regular readers than we already have if we published your review. We won't publish a negative review either, we'll just quietly ignore that book".

Probably the editor would also ask that journalist if he thought that newspaper or magazine was really the right place for him.

Jul 26, 2010 at 9:41 PM | Unregistered CommenterPeter B

Bear in mind that my first review was in Prospect magazine, which is nothing if not left wing (although they did get a right wing journalist to write it).

Jul 26, 2010 at 9:54 PM | Registered CommenterBishop Hill

Wow! That was a super review. Great story! :)

Jul 26, 2010 at 10:55 PM | Unregistered CommenterShub

Dung
Where would one find Prof Wm Nierenberg's video that caused your penny to drop? Would I be able to follow it?

Jul 26, 2010 at 11:28 PM | Unregistered CommenterC Johnson

I think the general public, of all political persuasions, and certainly we in this forum, are after the honest truth, and refuse to chew the cud on suspiciously rendered fodder, especially when it carries a 'government-approved' stamp on the sack.

Jul 26, 2010 at 11:43 PM | Unregistered CommenterPharos

C Johnson

The best explanation is here: http://wattsupwiththat.com/2010/03/08/the-logarithmic-effect-of-carbon-dioxide/

The comments by Lindzen I cant find atm but during this 48 minute speech by Nierenberg he does confirm it here:
http://www.populartechnology.net/2010/07/eminent-physicists-skeptical-of-agw.html. scroll to the bottom of this page for the video.
To be honest it is not an exciting video but he does confirm the logarithmic CO2 thing :)

Jul 27, 2010 at 2:37 AM | Unregistered CommenterDung

Dung

Mr Don Pablo you are certainly intoxicated!

Rule one: Never drink and drive.

Rule two: Never drink and blog.

I was stone sober. Still am, but there is a bottle of Geyser Peak white wine (California is good for some things) waiting for me.

My Mexican Hat Dance Model makes as much sense as the the Hockey Stick, unless, of course, you are Canadian. And given Steve McIntyre is, perhaps he actually would prefer the Mexican Hat Dance Model. It explains the ups and downs in the weather -- er -- climate.

Cosmic

I agree. That is why I said that it is all about politics and those driving the agenda don't give a damn about the facts.


About the Review

I think Barry Woods said it all with: "Wow, I'd frame that review...."

It was an excellent review. Beyond that, it was a very interesting thread: We meet an nice person -- Jerry. And Dung had a penny drop moment. And I learned a new expression from Dung. And, of course, I came up with my model of Climate Change. :)

Seriously, the review helps. There is momentum building for HSI. That is good. That is what we need.

Jul 27, 2010 at 5:36 AM | Unregistered CommenterDon Pablo de la Sierra

Don Pablo Said

We meet an nice person -- Jerry

Aw shucks (is that the correct American term?) - thanks, but be sure to check with my 'leader of the opposition' before committing too deeply.

I enjoy reading this blog and many of the contributors are clearly patient, determined, and well informed.

I won't even bother to try and mention the many names here who talk good sense in many places - asides from thinkingscientist who has shown remarkable forbearance and delivered razor sharp points on the RC site recently.

This blog is pleasantly non-confrontational, often humorous, and is a million miles away from the "I'm right, you're wrong" approach on so many sites. It's also informational and up-to-date and has some pretty clued up contributors.

Thanks to all involved.

Jul 27, 2010 at 11:13 AM | Unregistered CommenterJerry

To all those who said nice things about my review – thanks.

To Jerry – Fairfax “centrist”? You must get out more; Fairfax’s Age is Melbourne’s “Pravda on the Yara”. But if you know of any such “centrist” publication that would publish anything like my review, please advise; I’d love to get something published there.

To everyone (especially lefties) – if it is true that AGW skeptics tend to be right-wing and AGW alarmists left-wing, why is that? The Old Left was allegedly for scientific and industrial progress towards utopian prosperity for the masses; how did that morph into pseudo-scientifically denying the masses of the world the carbon powered prosperity we take for granted? Cosmic gave a lead re the market verses the government, but I think there is more to it than that.

Jul 27, 2010 at 12:54 PM | Unregistered CommenterJohn Dawson

Well I tend to think right wing people of a moderate persuation tend to be pragmatic and left wing people tend to be idealist.
However this view comes with a heath warning since I struggle to even shpell left and right these days ^.^

Jul 27, 2010 at 1:57 PM | Unregistered CommenterDung

Whatever the original philosophy of 'The Left', it now all about authoritarianism. This is why CAGW is so attractive to them...it seems to give a moral virtue allowing them to indulge in ever more control...with the fig leaf of 'its all to save the planet' as an excuse.

Add to that the fact that the average 'carbon footprint' of their supposed class enemies is generally greater than that of the 'working class', and you have the perfect cause behind which all shades of Leftist opinion can unite.

This is why they fight so hard over small obvious things. Having constructed this Perfect Storm of theopolitics, it is essential to maintain its purity against all comers. For if even one piece of the structure were to fail, then doubts might creep in, and it is far harder to argue for something that is only 60% right rather than for something 100% guaranteed correct.

Just ask any evangelical Christian or radical Muslim or hardline Communist. Doubts are not allowed.

Jul 27, 2010 at 2:46 PM | Unregistered CommenterStirling English

Sorry, but the Quadrant review is clearly a hoax. ;-)

Jul 28, 2010 at 10:36 AM | Unregistered CommenterPhil Clarke

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