Be honest now, is all the spooky weather changing your mind about the reality of global warming? The changing pattern of the Earth's climate is beyond argument for most scientists, but legions of armchair doubters abound in great, noisy numbers.

After the East Coast was whacked by nasty, punishing storms and heat, I've heard a telling response from local residents. Recent pounding rain in the middle of the night woke them up and kept them up. With good reason.

Climate experts say we are getting a taste of what lies ahead: worsening storms, wildfires, droughts and other extreme events. "What we're seeing really is a window into what global warming really looks like," said Princeton University geosciences and international affairs professor Michael Oppenheimer, in a generally disturbing Associated Press article.

Since January 1, more than 40,000 hot-temperature records have been set in the United States. Just a crazy fluke or are the scientists right?
What do the skeptics say now? Indeed, is what they have to say just more hot air?