"I would argue that he has done just the opposite" - Roy Spencer.

Well of course! That's how you can tell what excellent skeptics are Roy and Rob above. They're always arguing just the opposite.

But of course that's a foreign concept to you. In any case, it would seem the Global Warmenist's hoax basically backfired on him:

SPECIAL NOTICE: (11/08/07)
TO: Listeners of Rush Limbaugh on Thursday, November 8, 2007
FROM: Roy W. Spencer
RE: GLOBAL WARMING STUDY HOAX

Yesterday (11/7/07), a "research study" was circulating on the internet which claimed to have found the "real" reason for global warming. Even though the hoax was quite elaborate, and the paper looked genuine, a little digging revealed that the authors, research center, and even the scientific journal the study was published in, did not exist. I sent an e-mail to Rush about the issue regarding the hoax, with a copy of the "research study". Unfortunately, my very brief note to Rush was not very clear, and he thought that I was calling global warming a hoax, rather than the study. Even though Rush has told me not to worry about it, and that "the buck stops here" with him, I just wanted to apologize to everyone for this misunderstanding, as I feel that better wording on my part would have prevented this from happening.

-Roy W. Spencer

*********************************************************************************
November 9 UPDATE: THE AUTHOR OF THE HOAX SPEAKS

An anonymous Brit has now admitted in a brief interview that he wrote the fake global warming research paper which is claimed to have fooled some of us "global warming skeptics". His stated purpose was to "expose the credulity and scientific illiteracy of many of the people who call themselves climate sceptics".

I would argue that he has done just the opposite.

Several of us (scientists and non-scientists alike) were able, within a matter of seconds to minutes, to identify the paper as a fake. We then spread the word, warning others of the hoax. Therefore, we showed that we do not, as the hoaxer claims, "believe almost anything if it lends support to their position". We did exactly the opposite.

In contrast, the hoaxer himself shows that he continues to believe in urban legends. To the inteviewer's question: "Do you think humanity is to blame for the current observed warming?", the hoaxer replied, "Yes. The science could scarcely be clearer".

This myth continues despite the fact that there have been NO scientific papers published with evidence that our current warmth is not due to natural climate variability, e.g., a small change in cloudiness, or precipitation efficiency, or general circulation of the atmosphere, or a variety of other possible explanations that do not involve manmade greenhouse gas emissions.

Thus, I would say that not only did the hoaxer's attempt fail, he would do well to be a little more discerning about scientific claims from politicians and actors.

-Roy W. Spencer
updated 12:40 p.m. CST November 9, 2007 *********************************************************************************