Tag Archives: climate change

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Play

Get The Rhyme and Reason PodcastDelivered to Your Device Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Pandora | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Podcast Index | TuneIn | Deezer | RSS | More

Well, it’s all over but the whinin’. Yeah, for all intents and purposes, July is done. And is it just me, or does it seem like  there were more than a couple of hot days this month? Yeah, probably just me.

OK, July is done. But you know what that means.

Uh-huh. August, with its brisk, sweater weather days and frost-biting nights. Oh wait. Darn grammar checker. That was supposed to be brisk, Lipton tea, sweatier days and A/C testing nights.

Anyway…

Point is, there are plenty more hot days where these recent ones came from. (“Teacher, Tony ended a sentence with a preposition!” – “Quiet, Judy! Nobody likes a tattletail.”)

Sorry, just had a flashback to my days as Theodore Cleaver. No, wait. That was Jerry Mathers. Well, if I’m not him, then who am I? Wow, apparently July is NOT done with its heat damage. My brain is playing tricks on me. And I’m sitting in my office, in the cool comfort of A/C protection.

So, the damage must’ve occurred when I hauled 2000 bales of hay yesterday. No, wait. That was way back when I was a teenager during my summer days in the hay fields of Kansas. Wow, this is getting ridiculous.

I should probably see Dr. Clooney, uh, I mean Dr. Ross to find out if there’s something I can do about all this brain fog and heat exhaustion confusion. Wait a second. Dr. Ross is actually a fictional doctor played by Doctor, uh, George Clooney. Oh no!

Even more dazed confusion.

Just kidding.

Really had you going there. Didn’t I?

What’s all this silliness got to do with anything? Well, it’s got everything to do with nothing. Because everything I’ve shared so far makes about as much sense as the constant blabbermouth nonsense passing itself off as climate change science.

And those who love to shout it from the rooftops, bully pulpits, and airwaves, love to use an especially hot summer to, as they they think, emphasize their point. But they actually manipulate facts to articulate fiction. And I’m not a climate denier. That’s a descriptive non sequitur. Of course, climate changes. Every year.

I’ve seen it with my own eyes for over 6 decades. Some hotter than others.

But don’t take my word for it. After all, I’m a Christian who might have “an agenda.” Let’s take a look at what an atheist, a guy who won the Nobel Prize in physics for 2022, said about it:

Dr. John Clauser is quoted as saying, the climate emergency “narrative” is “a dangerous corruption of science that threatens the world’s economy and the well-being of billions of people.”

And his opinion has been widely accepted and welcomed.

NOT!

Dr. Clauser was supposed to give a talk at the International Monetary Fund, on climate change models. But his talk was cancelled. Other talks have been cancelled as well. Probably just a coincidence.

The good doctor (who needs to get right with the only actual good person there is) also argues that carbon dioxide emissions are beneficial to life on Earth. And he believes so-called “climate science” has “metastasized into massive shock-journalistic pseudoscience.” Whoa, pardner. Them there’s fightin’ words. But Dr. Clauser doesn’t stop there. He says  “business marketing agents, politicians, journalists, government agencies, and environmentalists” are in on the pseudoscience.

He made it easy to interpret his meaning by saying, “In my opinion, there is no real climate crisis.”

Now, I’m not saying that Dr. Clauser is the world’s leading authority on climate or weather. But I figured he’s a good source to share so I can show you this isn’t just a “Christian perspective.”

You can easily see the silliness when you watch the “marketing agents” on social media, TV, and in movies, commercials, and political circles through the years. For example, Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) told us, that perhaps in “our kids’ and grandkids’ lives” the planet could become an uninhabitable frozen wasteland.

Don’t believe me? Check out this video: (https://youtu.be/yCzjSDwGSF8)

But here we are. Frying eggs on the sidewalk.

Chicken little, chicken little,
That old, darn sky just won’t fall.
But I guess that doesn’t matter
Long as they can fool us all
Into thinking that the climate
Is an enemy we’ve made
Just by breathing and by living.
It’s a heat wave masquerade.
But discerners don’t believe it.
Yes, we know where Truth is found.
And we know the sky will not fall
And the Earth will spin around
For as long as God determines.
He has made that point quite clear.
So, go spout your hoaxes elsewhere.
Earth will still be fine next year!

© 2023

Before you go, share this link with everybody you know. Tell ’em to jump on the The TRUTH AND get some music and other good stuff, for Fa-Ree.

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Play

Get The Rhyme and Reason PodcastDelivered to Your Device Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Pandora | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Podcast Index | TuneIn | Deezer | RSS | More

I’ve talked about the Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting and producing team before when I shared some info about The Supremes and their hit song, “I Hear A Symphony.” And they had another hit, 60 years ago this month, with the song, “Heat Wave,” performed by Martha and the Vandellas. Martha’s version was a number 1 hit. Then, Linda Rondstat had a number 5 hit with the same song 12 years later. Even Phil Collins had a hit with it.

“Heat Wave” is an energetic, get-you-on-your-feet-to-dance kind of song.

Some critics might say it’s “infectious.” Reviews might call it a “danceable rock-a-twister.” But the main thing is, it’s an upbeat dance song about some of the effects of love.

But here we are 60 years later. And now a heat wave is an ominous and potentially world-changing (maybe even world-ending) event.

Sometimes I open my digital tablet and then open the “News” app. I don’t do it ALL the time. Because the basic news, weather, and sports are so predictable and mostly non-believable. But today I saw a headline that read: “Heat Wave Spanning From Florida To California Prompts Urgent Warnings.”

In case you didn’t already know this Florida is on the Eastern edge of America. And California is all the way on the opposite, Western, edge of America. So, right away, (if that info is familiar to you) you understand this truly IS an urgent matter. Because we’re talking about our entire country here.

So, obviously, that’s a report you gotta read.

And it follows up the headline with plenty of information to get your antennae up and your heart racing. The opening sentence says: “An expanding, intensifying heat wave prompted the National Weather Service to issue heat alerts for 115 million people on Friday in 15 states, with no letup in sight for some areas.”

Oh no!

115 million people! That’s a third of all the citizens in America. And the point is, it’s HOT! With no “letup in sight.” (uh, hang on, there’s still gonna be a September, October, etc. this year) But let’s not muddy the fear waters with actual provable facts. Because we’ve got a populace to control. And fear is the best tool for that.

So, let’s talk about the “public health dangers.” And the “scope, intensity, and endurance” of this hot weather. Plus, we need to get the “alerts” about where the “longest-lasting impacts” of this “heat dome” will occur.

But maybe I’m not being fair.

Maybe the weather services just have our best interests at heart.

So, maybe they just want you to have all the facts so you can make good decisions while your brain is frying. And maybe that’s why they say things like: “Heat waves can be extremely deadly.” And “Heat waves are quiet killers, with deaths often going uncounted until well after an extreme weather event has subsided.”

It’s true that “extreme weather” events can kill you.

But so can aging, boating, camping, driving, gambling, gardening, hiking, recreational marijuana, a sedentary lifestyle, and sports. Yeah, pretty much all you have to do, in order to one day die, is exist in the first place.

Here’s the kicker to the “weather report” I read.

They had to toss this in: “…using peer-reviewed methods, from Climate Central shows climate change is likely boosting the odds for the upcoming extreme heat.”

And they add these guilt-loaded bullet points to make sure you’re aware that YOU are the problem:

  • The main cause of long-term climate change is human-caused emissions of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, due to burning fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas.
  • Some research has shown that without climate change, certain heat waves would have been virtually impossible.

I hope you realize there’s no such thing as “fossil fuels.” And I also hope you realize that volcanos spew more into the atmosphere than all the “human-caused emissions.”

But if those reports truly care about your safety, then it shouldn’t be long before they warn everyone to stop growing pot. Yeah, according to some estimates, growing an ounce of pot indoors can emit as much carbon as burning a full tank of gas. “Hey, somebody shut this guy up. He’s trying to take away our natural medicine.”

You’re probably like me.

And you probably realize that a “spirit of fear” comes from a dark place. Because God gives a “spirit of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

So, you probably know that when it’s extra hot outside, you reduce your energetic outdoor activities. And you wait till Autumn before you ramp things up again. The same is true for the cold, dark winters. Wait for Spring.

And the next time someone tells you Earth is heating up, just ask, “Since when?” Don’t buy the lie of climate change. Because it’s YOU “they” truly want to reduce.

When the Truth is revealed, it transforms
And establishes reconciled norms.
And the people who care are both humble and rare,
Well-equipped to extinguish firestorms.

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Ninety degrees is too hot. You can disagree with me. But if you think it’s not that hot, then prove it by turning off the a/c in your house and your car. Yeah, I didn’t think so. Because regardless of humidity or heat indexes or whatever, ninety degrees is too hot. And it has been at ninety or above for most of the middle of August. But all this heat makes me appreciate the cool weather of Autumn. My favorite time of the year.

I get it. Cool weather isn’t for everyone.

And isn’t it our differences that bring us together? Right. And war is just a figment of my imagination, too. But I digress. Where was I?

Oh yeah, cool weather isn’t for everyone. But one thing you’ll see, when Autumn arrives, is how people tend to perk back up. Because cooler temperatures invigorate you. Sure, warmer temperatures are better for growing food. But there’s nothing like a brisk, sunny morning to motivate you to get to those things you put off.

So, what got me ranting about this?

Ironically, it wasn’t the heat.

Actually it was the cool down. And I don’t mean Autumn. I’m talking about the general temperature of the Earth. So-called “scientists” say our little, blue planet is about 4.5 billion years old. Give or take a week or two. But according to real math and science (follow the science, follow the science) current temps don’t add up.

In fact, even if the Earth started out as just a ball of lava, it would have cooled off to its current temperature in way less than 4.5 billion years. That’s WAY less. With a capital WAY.

But what about radioactive decay?

Yeah, even if you factor in big numbers for radioactive decay, Earth would have still cooled off in way less than 4.5 billion years. And a PhD, from M.I.T. agrees with me. (Actually I agree with him, but who’s counting?)

But why would anyone be upset with me for saying our awesome planet is young? Simple.

Because that would mean evolution couldn’t possibly be true. And if that’s the case, then how did thought-filled, self-aware, designing creatures…like us humans…develop in just thousands of years? Uh-oh. It doesn’t seem illogical to think we were designed by a thought-filled, self-aware designer.

But that couldn’t be. Because chances are that designer might wanna set up some ground rules. And we massively intelligent, sovereign humans just wouldn’t stand for it.

Or should I say, don’t…instead of wouldn’t?

Yeah, it’s “don’t” for most people. But for those of us who realize the one, true, living, loving Creator of Heaven and Earth loves us, we gladly acknowledge His ground rules as good for us.

Wow. I just went from a rant on hot weather to God’s love.

That’s pretty cool.

I’ve made a decision not to fear
What the weather might do to us here.
And I’ve chosen to trust what God said
About how long we’ll have this homestead.

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

Get my Rhyme & Reason Podcast delivered (free) right to your device.

My books are also on Amazon.com or Apple Books

Grab yourself an un-cool T-shirt

Or how about some music for kids

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Media outlets share climate change facts that are totally unbiased. And they’re 100% accurate. Oops. I skimmed back and re-read what I just wrote. I’ll have to edit out those typos when I get a chance. Because they’re the opposite of true. And you remember what the opposite of true is. Right?

False.

But who cares if the information presented is true or false. That’s beside the point. Because as long as it sells papers…uh, websites and advertising…write it and publish it.

So-called “climate change facts” are exercises in information manipulation.

I love the art (and science) of writing. The countless ways of turning a phrase. Alliteration. Metaphors and similes. Allegories and short stories. Yeah, I love it.  But people, who call themselves “journalists” (because they get a “journalism” degree in a college) twist facts to grind their ax.

For example, a “senior editor” for an online “news” organization said this in a recent article:

“Thanks to climate change, heat waves and record temperatures in the Pacific Northwest may become commonplace.”

Of course, the implication is “Aargh, we’re all gonna burn up!” But when someone says something “may” happen, it’s crucial (and easy) to remember…it also may not. (Side note: I’m a might or might not kind of guy when it comes to examples like this. But that’s just me.)

Anyway…

That same so-called “senior editor” went on to write that the heat dome around the Pacific Northwest has been described as a “once in a millennium”weather event. Then, he added, “…such extreme temperatures are a rarity in the region. But thanks to climate change, they may not be so unusual in the years to come.”

And there’s that information manipulation again. Warmer temperatures truly “may not be so unusual in the years to come” up yonder in the great Northwest. But then again, they may still be rare.

No one knows. So, you can choose to go the Chicken Little route and believe the sky is falling and the sun’s gonna burn us up. Or…you can choose to follow the actual science. I know, I know. That’s more work than listening to (or reading) talking heads on TV and online. But grownups don’t mind work.

And when you do the work, you discover it wasn’t all that long ago that global cooling was the fear du jour. Mister Spock…I mean Leonard Nimoy…even narrated a special report about it.

Our grandchildren were gonna freeze. Now, they’ll burn. Oh no!

My favorite part of the article I’ve been talking about was actually the photo that went with it. It was a picture of a guy on a paddle board out in the bay near a city in the Northwest. And the caption/link under the picture said “We’re gonna have to get used to this.” I nearly did a spit take (look it up).

Because I bet the guy on the paddle board was thinking that, too. “Yeah, I could really get used to this.”

I’ve made a decision not to fear
What the weather might do to us here.
And I’ve chosen to trust what God said
About how long we’ll have this homestead.

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

Get my Rhyme & Reason Podcast delivered (free) right to your device.

My books are also on Amazon.com or Apple Books

Grab yourself an un-cool T-shirt

Or how about some music for kids

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

I just read a headline that said, “Pacific Northwest cities shatter heat records again, life grinds to a halt” And if that could be true, then the Pacific Northwest would certainly be the place for life to grind to a halt. But, somehow, I just can’t see business owners, who actually need to make a living for their families, just grind to a halt. And I’d be willing to bet regular people kept doing regular things, too.

But breaking heat records, apparently, is a very scary thing.

Because omg (One Might Guess) 5 really hot days in a row means we’re all gonna die. Or at the very least we’re all gonna sizzle on the sidewalks like slugs.

But all the shattering and grinding headlines makes me wonder. (Remember when Arsenio Hall talked about things that make you go, hmm?) Anyway, I wonder why the pictures included with those headlines and articles showed smiling people lying on blankets in the shade in the park. Hmm…

And other pictures showed people frolicking in fountains. Hmm…

I mean, those are some mighty stupid so-and-so’s. Because, they’re enjoying themselves with total disregard for the fact that we have an apocalyptic meltdown goin’ on.

What are we, who observe such behavior, supposed to think? That some cool water and shade trees are gonna save us from inevitable destruction? Yeah, right. C’mon man. Just think of all those other hot times during history. And I’m talking about even the history that doesn’t include American record keeping.

Yeah, those were real times, too.

And remember how those people were annihilated. Zapped off to Extinctville. And then, fortunately, aliens came to the rescue and re-seeded the planet with new humans. Whew! Talk about close calls.

Sure, we can’t always depend on aliens to bail us out.

But have a little faith, people. Who knows? Maybe a huge wave of cool, Pacific water will blast into Seattle (and other Pacific Northwest areas) and chill things off. And don’t tell me it could never happen. Or else I’ll start to think you don’t even believe the alien story.

Sorry, this is starting to sound a little cray zee. It’s probably the heat on my head. Or maybe it IS cray zee. Oh well, while I’m in this cray zee world, I’m gonna forget the heat records and sing.

In This World

I’m in this world but not of it.
I like this life but don’t love it.
My Savior rises above it.
I’m in this world but not of it.

This world can beat me up.
But this world is not my home.
I have a finer place where I will forever roam.
This world’s no easy street.
This world is not so nice.
It costs a lot to leave,
But my Father paid the price.

So…Chorus

This world has lots of love,
But this world is filled with hate.
One day it won’t be so,
And so I can hardly wait.
This world has moans and groans.
This world has aches and pain,
But soon even this shall pass,
Jesus the King will reign.

Chorus…inst…chorus 3 times

© 2008 Tony Funderburk

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

Get my Rhyme & Reason Podcast delivered (free) right to your device.

My books are also on Amazon.com or Apple Books

Grab yourself an un-cool T-shirt

Or how about some music for kids

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Play

Get The Rhyme and Reason PodcastDelivered to Your Device Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Pandora | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Podcast Index | TuneIn | Deezer | RSS | More

I’m sure you’ve noticed, if you’ve lived more than a couple of decades, how we continue to suffer through a climate crisis. Every year it’s the same thing. You can’t depend on seasons because they consistently (oops, should I say “consistently”) change. And every 90 days or so (oops, should I say “every”) the weather takes another turn. What are we gonna do? And where can we go?

It’s like climate crisis is here to stay.

Sure, every winter it feels like you live in a meat freezer. But you know it’s inevitable…when summer, arrives, it’ll feel like you live in a greenhouse. Can I get an amen? (and awomen)

And speaking of greenhouse, what dastardly and devilish effects will living on a warm planet bring us? I mean besides all those extra plants and their extra long growing seasons. Because that’s easily solved by just chopping them down, grinding them up, and using them to fuel the more efficient wind turbines.

No, I’m talking about the more serious problems for all us energy inefficient humans.

Like…what are we supposed to do with all those winter clothes when the planet stops freezing for months at a time? Oh sure, we could put them in the closet or storage bins like we always have. But does that really fix anything?

And then there are serious economic catastrophes ahead for states that depend on tourism. For example, here in Colorado, where I live, what’s gonna happen when no one comes to ski anymore? And what’s Florida gonna do when the shorelines rise all the way up to Disneyworld?

There oughta be a law. Or maybe a thousand more laws.

Because somebody’s gotta get this planet back in alignment with the sun. And somebody’s gotta address the elephant in the room…the root problem…we gotta turn down the thermostat on the sun. Or at least figure out a way to mount a thermoshield around our little, blue greenhouse.

But I’m guessing none of that will happen. And our climate crisis is here to stay.

Yeah, Isis might have been able to terrorize people for a little while. But this warm weather might go on for the rest of our lives. Oh, the humanity!

So, I’ve made a decision not to fear
What the weather might do to us here.
And I’ve chosen to trust what God said
About how long we’ll have this homestead.

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

Get my Rhyme & Reason Podcast delivered (free) right to your device.

My books are also on Amazon.com or Apple Books

Grab yourself an un-cool T-shirt

Or how about some music for kids