Weekend open thread

DirkH: ‘Big words. You surely have a link to a comment of yours where you do exactly that.’
More a series of exchanges from a few years back, where the poster Smokey accepted that I had put him right on a few matters.
Starting around 2 May 2009, 7.18:
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/05/01/name-3-clear-signs-of-the-coming-thermageddon/#comments
But this is ancient history, and doesn’t bring us any closer to the whereabouts of our mystery departee. I am, frankly, becoming a bit concerned, and am wondering whether some climate scientists have threatened him with a tipping point and he’s gone to ground.
But why has Smokey not contacted WUWT from his hiding place? He knows he’s safe among friends here, where few wish him harm, and in fact are more than willing to give him a hand-up.
So desperately seeking Smokey. Give us a sign that you’re safe and well.
Your friends in climate, waiting anxiously.

Brendan H says:
“Sadly, Smokey was never really OK…”
And:
“I’d heard he succumbed to heat exhaustion on one of his philanthropic quests to the third world.”
And:
“Whatever the case, we won’t see his like again. Certainly, none of the more frequent posters on the board sound remotely like our late friend.”
And:
“…we should not speak ill of the dead, especially of one taken so young.”
I note that Brendan H made his comments speaking ill of ‘Smokey’, who is conveniently not here to defend himself from brave Brendan H. So now that Brendan H can comment with impunity, he says:
“…Smokey accepted that I had put him right on a few matters.”
Not really. After reading through that entire long debate thread that Brendan H linked to, it is obvious to this observer that Brendan H was bested in his running exchange with Smokey, and also with Frank Lansner, and with jeez, and with TonyB, and with various other commentators.
Nothing is 100%, of course, but to understand how well Brendan H was put in his place, the whole 344 comment thread must be read for the context. If “Brenda H” really believes he did well in that debate, he is more than a little bit deluded. As Richard Feynman said, the easiest person to fool is yourself. Brendan H is only fooling himself.

D Boehm: ‘I note that Brendan H made his comments speaking ill of ‘Smokey’, who is conveniently not here to defend himself…’
I also mentioned his charm, philanthropy and ability to establish a good relationship with another poster with different views.
So I would say a fair and balanced eulogy, although I don’t know why I keep thinking about him in the past tense. I guess his absence is so keenly felt, and not just by me. Several other posters on this very thread have also expressed their sense of dislocation at Smokey’s abrupt and mysterious departure.
‘…it is obvious to this observer that Brendan H was bested in his running exchange with Smokey, and also with Frank Lansner, and with jeez, and with TonyB…’
Not according to my reading. A sample: ‘Jeez , “Damn! I agree with Brendan”; Tony B, “I have to agree with you as well”; Smokey, “Finally, I also have to thank Brendan H. for his good advice, and “Of course TonyB is right, your score is now 3”.’
But D Boehm, you don’t need to worry your head about this stuff, since it was before your time. To my knowledge, you never crossed words with Smokey. In fact, your appearance on the boards seemed to almost coincide with his departure. If you had arrived just a few minutes earlier, you might have had the pleasure of an introduction.