Listener Jim writes in with this bit of satire:

According to the scientific method, when the facts don't support the theory, the theory needs to change. I believe my theory is better supported by the empirical evidence than that global warming is caused by greenhouse gases GHG. I propose that CO2 and methane are actually icebox gases IBG that promote transfer of Earth's heat to outer space based on the following:

1. The Earth has been warming since the early 1900s, but at a slower pace than predicted by the global warming computer models. Humans continue to pump IBG into the atmosphere at record pace yet the average global temperature stopped increasing 10 years ago and actually started decreasing six years ago.

2. The Earth was much warmer 1000 years ago when Erik the Red named his island colony Greenland for obvious reasons. This warm period extended until the 1700s when we experienced a mini-ice age remember Valley Forge.

3. Mars has also experienced global warming. Its average temperature has increased 75% as much as Earth's while receiving 45% as much of the sun's energy. Mars also has virtually no atmosphere to trap heat.

4. Tropical storms have an approximate 30 year cycle. The number of peak years in this cycle was less than normal. While we had devastating storms in 2005, the following years have been below average in both number and intensity.

5. While ice was melting in the Arctic, ice was forming in the Antarctic at an even faster pace. Also, this year Arctic ice has recovered to levels not seen for the last 29 years.

6. Russian scientists recently announced they fear we are headed for another ice age. I seem to recall a consensus of scientists making the same predictions in the 1970s.

As you can see from the above data, the IBGs have moderated the normal warming period that follows a cooling off period. Or, I could be wrong and human activity actually has a negligible impact on the Earth's climate; especially in comparison to the 800 pound gorillas of climate control, solar cycles, and the Earth's volcanic activity.