Is our climate becoming more extreme? (Guest post)

http://scottishsceptic.wordpress.com/2011/08/03/is-our-climate-becoming-more-extreme-guest-post

Our memory of events from years ago tends to blur into the mists of time. Furthermore the global nature of today's news media often brings to our attention stories which we would not have even known about if they had happened decades ago. I have therefore put together the following record of extreme weather events from 1971, which I hope will provide a certain amount of perspective when looking at what is happening today. Why 1971? Quite simply it is 40 years ago, a nice round number, and of course, before the gradual rise in global temperatures began a few years later.