Mark,

I'm more interested in having a professional journalist or helpful dispassionate contributors (like g.d., for example) describe some useful metrics for general reference than I am in drawing out semi-religious fervour from a confirmed zealot willing to flagrantly misinterpret and misstate atmospheric lifetime estimates to keep up the charade. 

I appreciate these are heady times for folks belonging to your cult now that the federal cabinet includes so many empty-headed cheerleaders, but those of us with our feet close to the ground still need reliable data to base rational assessments on.