The observation of sunspot activity in the 17th century corresponded with a period of bitter cold that began around 1650 and lasted, with intermittent spikes of warming, until 1715. Frigid winters and cold summers during that period led to massive crop failures, famine and death in Northern Europe (INVESTOR’S BUSINESS DAILY 2/7/2008).

Historical observations of sunspot activity by scientists such as Galileo are likely more reliable than the temperature findings reported by numerous faceless, individuals used by advocates of Global Warming.

The fact that “Global Warming” peaked in 1998 and has since leveled off or even partially declined is not “wishful thinking.” The climate is always in flux and humanity has always prospered during warm climes and always suffered during cold ones. So we should all “hope” that that it is global warming, not cooling that is headed our way. But “hoping” will not change anything.
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“Overlooked by Gore, et al, is the fact that epochs with
high-amplitude sunspot cycles coincide with warm climates,
low-amplitude cycles with cold climates. In the 16th century there
were hardly any sunspots (the ‘Maunder Minimum’), perhaps none
at all, heralding the ‘little ice age.’ In the 19th century there
was another relative minimum of sunspot activity, coinciding with
the Irish potato famine caused by miserable summer weather. With
the subsequent increase in sunspot activity, the climate began to
warm. Meanwhile, NASA reports that the south-polar ice cap on Mars
shows signs of shrinking beyond the expected seasonal cycle. We
only have two vehicles up there, and they are not even running on
gasoline. Perhaps the green Martians have hidden all their SUVs
on the other side of that planet. Draw your own conclusions on
global warming!” —Emeritus Professor of Atmospheric Science,
Austrian Academy of Science (http://archive.patriotpost.us/pub/06-26_Brief/page-4.php)