I agree, it's not a paranormal phenomenon.
However, I imagine that Gene and Chris brought it up because many seem to think that it is a conspiracy pulled on the public by all of the top science institutions.
My opinion: If there is a conspiracy worth mentioning, it's that many private religious or fossil fuel-backed interest groups/websites continuously spawn non-science to muddy the waters. It's ideologically and politically motivated.
What is highly disconcerting to me as an American citizen, is that the anti-intellectual attitude (looking at you neo-cons/religious right) makes people distrust scientists and the thinkers, all the while eating up the propaganda of political preachers and big business. I imagine that it's easier to understand that Jesus takes care of the world and that money is good, than it is to understand invisible chemical processes in the atmosphere and the ethical imperative that follows: The energy sector has to change.
I think the issue has made clear the level of hypocrisy of many conspiracy theorists. They become tools because they don't understand the science, and can't be bothered to find proper sources. (Like Chris O'Brien explained: add .edu to your Google search..)
The vilification of Al Gore is very sad imo, and dis-heartening. First of all, some people like to portray him as an opportunist. But the fact of the matter is that he's been writing books about the environment and environmental politicis for decades. Mind you, books that are quite informed! From early on, Gore recognized that without a healthy environment, the people are not free. Having to pay a company to supply water 'cleaned' with chloride etc. is not freedom. Freedom is drinking unpolluted water from the brook, or the well. Brains damaged because of leaded gasoline was not freedom, except for the companies that made money on it, and couldn't bother with the environmental effects. Unregulated business unchecked is not freedom for the people. Time to wake from that slumber, and side with the people.
Oh, and the Bush clan who does major fossil fuel biz cheated Gore of a presidency. A case of corruption, a coup!! And a massive blow to the environment, to you and me. Yet the 'truth-loving' conspiracy theory guys think Al Gore is the bad guy!?
The hypocrisy is mindblowing, and shameful.