Who is Piers Corbyn?

Who is Piers Corbyn?

  

I came across Piers Corbyn by accident.  I was casually watching FOX & Friends this past Monday morning when an interview with this somewhat eccentric looking man with uncontrolled hair (think Christopher Lloyd as Dr. Emmett Brown or Albert Einstein) came on the screen.  You may have seen a few professors who looked similar during your college days.

It turns out that Piers Corbyn is indeed a scientist, but not a mad one.  Here’s a bit of his bio taken in large part from Wikipedia…

He was born in Chippenham, Wiltshire and, at age 15, started recording weather and climate patterns and constructing his own observation equipment.  Corbyn received a first class honors degree in physics at Imperial College London.  He received a degree in astrophysics in 1979 at Queen Mary College, London, later examining the relationship between the Earth's weather and climate and solar activity.  Following some years of weather prediction as an occupation, he formed a company called Weather Action which sells its forecasts to those in industries who need an accurate long range weather prediction. 

Tom Standage of WIRED says of Corbyn…

“Another sign he's not your everyday weatherman: the conspicuously displayed photocopy of a check for £2,291 hanging on the wall.  Unique among meteorologists, Corbyn bets on his forecasts.  Unusual among bettors of any stripe, he wins regularly.  The check on the wall is a payout from London bookmaker William Hill on one of their monthly bets.”

Corbyn doesn’t just predict the weather a few days in advance.  In fact, he predicted the snowy, cold winter weather in London last May at the same time the Government’s Metrological Office predicted it would be one of the mildest winters on record.  The Met Office forecast is based on output from a new $50 million super computer using the Global Warming model.  Corbyn dismisses the model as basically “garbage in, garbage out.”  He says at his website (www.weatheraction.com)...

“Standard forecasters don't know what is hitting them this winter.  What is happening with weather extremes and climate change is caused by predictable solar particle and magnetic effects – called Solar Climate Change – and is nothing to do with the fiction of man-made and CO2 driven global warming/climate change; that is failed science based on fraudulent data.”

It was just about 10 years ago that a leading national UK paper, The Independent, ran the headline, “Snowfalls Are Now Just a Thing of the Past.”  Among the quotes from the article are included…

“The warming is so far manifesting itself more in winters which are less cold than in much hotter summers.”  —Dr. David Viner, senior research scientist at the climatic research unit of the University of East Anglia.  And…

“…within a few years, winter snowfall will become ‘a very rare and exciting event…’”—Dr. David Viner.  And finally…

“Children just aren’t going to know what snow is.”—Dr. David Viner

While I have a degree in engineering, I’m no climate scientist, but even if one has just a little bit of common sense and the ability to reason, it seems fair to conclude that Dr. Viner and his friend, Al Gore, just don’t know what they are talking about.

While climate alarmists continue to predict man caused global warming of the globe, Piers Corbyn (who puts his money where his mouth is by betting on his own forecasts) says the earth is in a 20 to 25 year cycle of cooling due to solar activity. 

Now tell me this.  If you had to make an important decision about the future and you had two advisors, both of whom claimed to be experts, who would you trust?  The one who depends for his living on government grants premised on a particular outcome, or the one who has to sell his advice in the marketplace to make a living and even bets his own money on his forecasts?

The government of the United Kingdom is betting on the folks that can’t shoot straight, the ones who said it was going to be a warm winter and that snow was going to be a thing of the past.  They have accepted global warming as settled science and are going forward with an energy policy that dooms their citizens to a “new normal” that will economically cripple their nation.

According to Iain Murray in The Washington Times…

“The policy is likely to raise electricity bills per household by about $800 per year by 2020 while reducing the capacity of the country to build reliable power plants.  The carbon tax could reach as high as almost $110 per metric ton of carbon dioxide.”

And the US isn’t far behind.  Although so called “Cap and Trade” (more accurately described as “Cap and Tax”) failed even in the disastrous 110^th Congress, President Obama is now pushing it forward as an administrative rule via the Environmental Protection Agency.  This is not just a possibility, it is reality.  The first restrictions on the use of carbon generated electricity, i.e. coal and petroleum electric plants, goes into effect in January 2011.  If such restrictions are applied across the board to all carbon based use, your energy bills will increase, on average, over $2,000 per year.

How ironic that while Government Motors (GM) has introduced the Volt as the first clean energy vehicle, it will depend for energy primarily on coal fired electric plants, the most dominant source of electricity in the United States.  In reality, GM’s Volt will be the highest polluting automobile in America.

Why should we be surprised at anything the government does?

Believing in global warming in the light of science makes just as much sense as believing the earth is flat.  The global warming hoax is a dangerous fantasy that is driven solely by political science, not hard science.  It has been totally discredited, yet the politicians press forward with one single goal—more control over your life and mine.

Let us hope and pray that the new Congress will listen more to real scientists like Piers Corbyn, than they do to junk scientists like Dr. David Viner or that self-styled climatologist, Al Gore (even though he did invent the Internet).  It’s time to put the brakes on the EPA before it’s too late.

What’s the Big Deal About Christmas?

What’s the Big Deal About Christmas? 

What is the big deal about Christmas?  Why all the fuss?  What’s the real “meaning of the season,” as people like to say?  Is it all about being together with family and friends?  Being with family and friends is really nice, especially at Christmastime, but that’s not the meaning of Christmas or the reason we celebrate Christmas.  Is it about the weight challenged guy in the red suit?  Of course not, giving and getting gifts is fun and enjoyable, but it’s not the reason for celebrating at Christmastime.  How about peace?  Is Christmas about peace—peace between enemies, peace on earth?  No, that’s not the reason or the meaning of Christmas.

Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus. 

OK, so we get together and have fun as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, right?  Sure, it’s fun to go to a birthday party, but what’s so special about Jesus’ birth?  Yes, he was born dirt poor, in fact, he was born in a windy barn with all sorts of not-so-clean animals milling around in their stalls.  And Jesus was truly good.  But what’s with the worldwide celebration of Christmas?

Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus because his birth had been foretold for centuries and centuries.  In fact, it’s recorded in the book of Genesis that God promised Adam and Eve that He would send a Savior to save them from their sins.  And all throughout the Old Testament, many hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, details were prophesied about his coming.  He was to be of the lineage of King David, and indeed he was.

The big deal is that you and I and everyone who was ever born and ever will be born, are born as sinners.  If we are honest with ourselves we know that we sin multiple times each and every day of our lives.  In Psalm 51:5, David said, “I was a sinner when my mother conceived me.”  Yes, not only was David a sinner, but all the “heroes” of the Old and New Testaments were sinners.  Perhaps Solomon said it best, “Certainly, there is no one so righteous on earth that he always does what is good and never sins.” (Ecclesiastes 7:20)  And in the New Testament Paul says in Romans 3:23, “Because all people have sinned, they have fallen short of God’s glory.”  What a self-delusional fool I would be if I believed anything else.  How can I deny my sinfulness?  It’s self evident every day, and your sins should be to you too.

So how is God going to allow sinful men and women to enter His perfect heaven?  No matter how hard we try, we can’t earn it.  We can’t wash away or deny our sins.  And we can’t quit sinning.  So how can we possibly get into heaven?  For God to let us into heaven the way we are would make heaven no longer perfect.  What a dilemma!

So God devised a plan, a perfect plan, so that sinful humans could enter His perfect heaven.  It did not and does not involve punishing us for our sins, but rather punishing His son, Jesus, for our sins.  Imagine, God the Father loves us so much He sent His only son, Jesus, to live a perfect life, and then take our sins upon himself on the cross so that we can enter heaven.  What love!  What sacrifice!  And then he rose in triumph that first Easter Sunday as the first to rise from the grave.  It was a sign and a promise that all who believe in Jesus will rise also to be with him in heaven forever.

That’s the big deal of Christmas.  The coming of the Messiah was promised in great detail for centuries and centuries and finally he was born to Mary in a humble stall in Bethlehem.  What a great reason to celebrate!  What a great reason to rejoice!  What a great reason to sing with joy!  The long promised Savior of the world has come to save us from our sins.  Hallelujah!

It is the birth of Jesus, and only the birth, life and death of Jesus, that gives any meaning whatsoever to our lives.  There is nothing else. 

More than 500 years before Jesus was born the prophet Isaiah wrote these exciting words:

“A child will be born unto us.  A son will be given to us.  The government will rest on his shoulders.  He will be named:  Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (9:6)

And of course the beautiful story of the birth of Jesus is told in the 2^nd chapter of Luke —

1 At that time the Emperor Augustus ordered a census of the Roman Empire. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All the people went to register in the cities where their ancestors had lived. 4 So Joseph went from Nazareth, a city in Galilee, to a Judean city called Bethlehem. Joseph, a descendant of King David, went to Bethlehem because David had been born there. 5 Joseph went there to register with Mary. She had been promised to him in marriage and was pregnant. 6 While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to have her child. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger because there wasn't any room for them in the inn. 8 Shepherds were in the fields near Bethlehem. They were taking turns watching their flock during the night. 9 An angel from the Lord suddenly appeared to them. The glory of the Lord filled the area with light, and they were terrified. 10 The angel said to them, "Don't be afraid! I have good news for you, a message that will fill everyone with joy. 11 Today your Savior, Christ the Lord, was born in David's city. 12 This is how you will recognize him: You will find an infant wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger." 13 Suddenly, a large army of angels appeared with the angel. They were praising God by saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those who have his good will!" 15 The angels left them and went back to heaven. The shepherds said to each other, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see what the Lord has told us about." 16 They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph with the baby, who was lying in a manger. 17 When they saw the child, they repeated what they had been told about him. 18 Everyone who heard the shepherds' story was amazed. 19 Mary treasured all these things in her heart and always thought about them. 20 As the shepherds returned to their flock, they glorified and praised God for everything they had seen and heard. Everything happened the way the angel had told them.

What a great story this is.  What an even greater event was the birth of Jesus as the long promised Savior of the world.  Hallelujah indeed.  Kathi and I wish you and your family a wonderful, joyous celebration of the birth of Jesus our Savior.

Being Presidential

Being Presidential 

Ronald Reagan wouldn’t even remove his suit jacket when he was in the Oval Office at the White House.  That is how much he respected the office of President of the United States.  Bill Clinton, well that’s another story that does not bear repeating.  If a President wants to be treated like a President, he must honor the office and the country he represents at all times.  He doesn’t go on MTV and answer an impertinent question in regard to his underwear and he doesn’t demean or disrespect the office of President in any way.  In short, it is one of his responsibilities to set the public tenor in the land whenever he is in public and even after he leaves the office bestowed upon him by the American people.  As a former President, he must continue his responsibility to act presidential as has every President, regardless of party, from time immemorial with the stark exception of Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.  A former President must stand above the fray encouraging and supporting the man or woman then in office, especially when the nation is in danger or at risk in any way.  A man or woman of character understands this.  He doesn’t accept a Noble prize on the condition that it trashes the current occupant of the office, and he isn’t the political mud slinger in chief.

Highly respected long time White House correspondent for Time magazine, the late Hugh Sidey (who I was privileged to meet on several occasions) served for a time as President of the White House Historical Association.  Always a gentleman, Mr. Sidey was very protective of the White House as a national treasure.  He was also concerned with the conduct of the occupant of the White House, especially in regard to the respect, dignity and honor which that person gave, or failed to give, to his high office.

Upon the defeat of President Carter in 1980 by Ronald Reagan, Mr. Sidey wrote a critique of the way Mr. Carter handled his official duties as President.  Although Hugh Sidey was a liberal, this particular article did not deal with issues, but rather with the decorum and etiquette of President Carter as our official representative and leader to the rest of the world.  Mr. Sidey was uncharacteristically critical of the outgoing President.  He was offended on day one by Mr. Carter’s decision to use his nickname, rather than his full name, James Earl Carter.  He was unhappy with a President of the United States making an address to the nation wearing a yellow cardigan sweater.  And he was particularly upset that Carter, during his term in office, chose to ignore established White House protocol and etiquette by seating his wife next to him during official state dinners, using poor wine, and toasting at the improper time.  Mr. Sidey, not Jimmy Carter, had the correct perspective on how a President should act, i.e. be presidential at all times.

I feel confident that if Hugh Sidey would have written about the behavior of Barack Obama that it would have been similarly uncomplimentary.  He would have disapproved of the classlessness of the President giving an iPod to the Queen of England containing his speeches.  And he would have understood that summarily returning the Churchill bust to the British Government during the first few days of his presidency was an affront to our closest ally.  He would have shaken his head sadly as the President went on his apology tour and he would have been shocked by this President or any President bowing to sheiks, kings, and tin horn dictators.

A President, especially while in office, has a responsibility to present himself in a presidential manner at all times.  He is, after all, the leader of all Americans and it is his responsibility to carry on his duties as President so that he brings respect and honor upon the office he holds, not just upon himself.

I recognize that President Obama is a young man with limited experience in the public arena.  He only served as a State Senator prior to being elected to the United States Senate.  He served in the Senate for less than two years (most of which time he was campaigning for President), and he has been President of the United States for only a short period.  Nevertheless, if he seeks the office, he must bear the responsibility of maintaining the traditions of the office.  When he does so, he not only strengthens our nation, but brings respect and honor on himself as well as the office of President.

It gives me no joy to say that President Obama has failed miserably in fulfilling this important responsibility.  I wish for his sake and for the sake of our nation that it was not so.  His latest news conference on the settlement he reached with the recently empowered Republican leadership in regard to the extension of the Bush tax cuts was just the latest example of a young man not being ready to lead our nation. 

Charles Krauthammer was understandably disturbed that the President did not thank or acknowledge the Republicans who participated in the negotiations for their cooperation and leadership.  As Mr. Krauthammer said, it is simple courtesy to do so.  A failure to act in a gentlemanly way hurts both the standing of the President, the office of the President, and ultimately, the nation.  Anger does not elevate Mr. Obama nor his standing with the American people.  Being President of the United States is not some political game.  It’s about being the leader of the free world and of the American people.  It’s about putting the good of the nation before yourself or even your political objectives.  It takes a big man to be a good President.

One is tempted to shout, “Grow up!” at the President.  Being President is not about you, Mr. Obama, it’s about the United States of America.  You are the President of every man, woman, and child in the United States.  Please act like a President at all times and follow the traditions of men who have served in that high office since its first occupant, George Washington.  You’re my President and I expect you to be the moral, dignified, and courageous leader of our nation.  It is my responsibility to honor you as you serve, for as Paul said in Romans 13:7, “If you owe someone respect, respect that person.  If you owe honor, honor that person.”  But also remember what Paul said to those in power, “People in the government are God’s servants while they do the work he has given them” (Romans 13:6b).

Read this Book!

Read this Book! 

How odd it is that two years into the presidency of Barack Obama Republicans and Democrats, liberals and conservatives are still trying to figure out Barack Obama.  This has never happened before.  Why are we still trying to decipher our President, to understand him, and most important, to identify what motivates him?  It is agreed by all that his demeanor is cool, almost detached, and his political philosophy somewhat of a mystery.  No one doubts his intelligence, yet no one really seems to know who he is.  Yes, he is a doctrinaire liberal, well educated in establishment liberalism.  No thanks to the news media whose job it is to honestly vet a candidate for president, we know he holds a number of out-of-the-mainstream, far left views.  We know that for more than two decades he attended the Reverend Jeremiah Wright’s church in Chicago, home to the infamous sermon that contained a wish that America be dammed.  But who is Barack Obama really?

He has made it fairly clear that he does not believe in what the late Seymour Lipset coined as “American Exceptionalism.”  Obama would like for America’s role in the world to be less than it has been in the past.  He wants to redistribute income from the more affluent to the “poor” of our land.  He has a special distaste for Britain which he has expressed in several ways, including the immediate return of the Winston Churchill bust upon entering the White House.  But what is it that really explains these and other actions such as bowing to dictators and Kings the world over?  What explains his apology tour of the world?

The answer is the new book by New York Times bestselling author, Dinesh D’Souza, The Roots of Obama’s Rage.  Well documented and researched, this book provides the best insight yet into understanding and predicting how our President will act and react in regard to situations domestic and international.

The thesis developed by D’Souza is that Obama sees America through the prism of a foreigner.  Although born in the United States, Obama was raised by a mother, Stanley Obama, who idolized his father, Barack, Sr., even after he deserted her, and even after marrying Lolo Soetoro, an Indonesian.  It’s no accident that while Obama barely knew his birth father, his first book is titled, Dreams From My Father.  It is the vision of his father, an anti-colonial, anti-neocolonial, African socialist, which is the driving force behind the often curious decisions and actions that our President takes.

Young Barack Obama spent four critical years in Indonesia before Stanley left Lolo because he had betrayed the anti-colonial vision he previously embraced.  Stanley feared that her son would not carry forward the vision of his father.  According to Obama himself, it was in Kenya that he finally embraced and understood the vision of his father and the importance of fulfilling his dream.  This, in a nutshell is the thesis of this eye-opening book.  I am convinced that you really can’t understand Obama until you read “The Roots of Obama’s Rage” and I urge you to not only buy a copy, but to buy multiple copies to give to friends and acquaintances. 

It has already been serialized in Forbes magazine to the consternation of the White House.  In fact, White House Press Secretary, Robert Gibbs, called in the Washington, DC staff of Forbes insisting that they had not fact checked the book and demanding that Forbes retract the entire article.  Free speech doesn’t seem to mean too much to the White House who reacted as one of the apparatchiks in Russia might react to criticism of Putin.  Forbes did not retract, the book had been fact checked carefully.  It was apparently the simple fact that the White House did not and does not want you to read this book which shines the light on who Barack Obama really is.

Get a copy anyway.  Read it.  Pass it along.  It could be the key to toppling Barack Obama in 2012.