Saturday 18 April 2009

My "underlying-warming-trend-o-meter" has gone into reverse!

I assumed, back in January when it was really cold, that The Warmenists' Phrase Of The Year would be 'underlying warming trend', as in "Yes, I know it's freezing, but it's only natural fluctuations masking the underlying warming trend".

I Googled the phrase on 2 January and got 2,010 results. A few days later, I got 2,740 results. I thought it would be cool to Google the phrase regularly and then plot a 'hockey stick graph' showing how the phrase had become common currency, but nope ...

... by early March it was back down to 2,410 results and as at today it is only 1,590.

I suppose this must be a case of 'natural fluctuations masking an underlying increase in the number of times the phrase is actually used' or something?

3 comments:

DBC Reed said...

Although not as sceptical as you about man-made global warming I cannot account(i) for the clearer skies over towns since my youth (ii)the jetstream.The latest scientific gossip/scrupulously arrived at theory about the one that affects us is that it is heading North.Since this means that high pressure will build up on the eastern side (over us) we will, according to the highly trained minds, get global warming in spades.Or just as likely continental/ freezing cold winters.The boffs don't know which.

Lola said...

Totally O/T - but did you here the priceless doublethink remark from the lefty talking head on R4 westminster show this a.m?

When told that it will be necessary to lay off lots of civil servants his repsonse was to say that this would cause an increase in state spending as they would all require UB40 payments!! And a reduction in income tax payments!! Not one of the other panellists or the chair-nerk thought to ask him how he came up with this pearl since these laid of people were already being supported by taxpayers.

It does me 'ead in.

Anonymous said...

I think you need to compare the usage of the "key phrase" de jour in press releases from usual suspects and the use in the wider media.

Everyone (on both sides) likes to design snappy phrases that capture and idea in the hope that they become part of the common currency. This one obviously didn't catch on, so on to the next meme.

The next big thing is the Copenhagen meeting and so a lot of low level activity is being done to prepare for a rash of dire predictions. For example we have the silly buggers trip to the North Pole to measure the ice completely with pre-programmed scientific readings. Apparently even though the ice is proving rather thick it is all new ice. Old ice seemingly melts concurrently with new ice forming.

The other big idea that they are pushing is "urgency". We have got only 5 years.