Do not smooth times series, you hockey puck!
There was a time when scientists wanted as much data, as much granularity as they could possibly process or get. Today, one uses proxy data (which is in itself already an opinion as it needs plenty of assumptions to be generated), and then this already questionable data is further adjusted, smoothened, and rectified until you get whatever result you want/need. Thats not science – thats hogwash. And we have bought into this. We must start by putting those snake oil sellers to the test in public. Let’s show the people what their assumptions are worth in reality and it needs to be theatric.
William M. Briggs 
