Topic: Medieval

A geologist argues that climate has always changed, citing the Medieval Warm Period (1000 AD) as a time of prosperity that was later "erased" by Michael Mann's hockey stick graph. The speaker claims he was denied an NPR interview because he refused to attribute warming to human activity. He asserts that the current "irrational hysteria" in the media ignores 100 previous studies confirming that historical warming was global and natural.

In a featured audio clip, Dr. Tim Ball explains his defense against Michael Mann's lawsuit, alleging that Mann "rewrote climate history" by removing the Medieval Warm Period from his models. Ball claims Mann grafted modern instrumental temperature records onto cherry-picked tree ring data to create the illusion of unprecedented warming. The segment criticizes the UN IPCC for using the hockey stick graph as a primary tool for climate policy.

Historical details of Tudor-era feasts under Henry VIII reveal menus featuring heron, porpoise, and swan decorated with gold leaf. Etiquette guidelines from Erasmus advised diners against gnawing bones like dogs or belching without covering the sound. During this period, guests used the tablecloth as a communal lap napkin and carried personal knives as fashion accessories.

A 2006 congressional testimony from a geophysicist challenges the "hockey stick" temperature graph, arguing that the Medieval Warm Period was a real, global phenomenon that modern climate scientists have tried to erase. The witness describes being pressured by NPR to attribute warming to human activity and warns of an "irrational hysteria" in the media regarding natural climate cycles.

The show acknowledges significant financial contributions from its "producers," including the Duchess of Japan, who donated $272.72. Other donors are recognized with titles such as the Baron of Northeast Texas and the Baron of the Blue Ridge. The segment includes listener notes regarding Brexit, family vacations to Medieval Times, and the "value for value" funding model.

The episode wraps with news that Gazprom has taken full ownership of the South Stream Transport BV. The hosts also identify a coordinated media meme describing Vladimir Putin as "going medieval" following the sentencing of opposition leader Alexei Navalny and the arrest of his brother.

A No Agenda producer calling from Milwaukee phoned into the Computer America show to ask Adam Curry for advice on a fictional project involving medieval rings. The caller used the opportunity to reference show-internal jokes while the host remained unaware of the prank. The segment concludes with a discussion on how hard clocks in syndicated radio prevent substantive dialogue and how a secondary "show" happened in the No Agenda chat room during the broadcast.