There is talk that President Biden will return us to the Paris Climate Agreement Here is a graph of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration along with the dates of the various climate agreements. As you can see, neither the Paris nor the other climate agreements have made any difference -- but they have cost us a tremendous amount of money. For example, wind power is an environmental disaster (latest example, here ) that increases electric rates and  destabilizes the electric grid.  Yesterday, the news broke that China - no big surprise - is violating its climate agreements . These agreements are worse than useless. They cost the United States vast sums of money and accomplish nothing. I urge President Biden to reconsider his affinity for the Paris climate agreement. 

At noon Eastern time, Joe Biden will become President of the United States. Let's congratulate him and wish him God's blessings and wisdom as he governs our nation.  It is my hope the president will appoint a strong leader at NOAA who is not a political partisan and who is intimately familiar with the serious operational challenges facing the agency. 

They were Thomas Jefferson and Harry Truman. On the eve of another inauguration, I thought you might enjoy learning more.  Regarding Jefferson : For the more than fifty years that Thomas Jefferson was a systematic weather observer, Monticello was the focus of his efforts to understand the American climate. Well before 1776, the date of his earliest surviving meteorological diary, he was carefully assembling information on the weather of Virginia and making his own observations at  Williamsburg  and Monticello. The fruits of these endeavors appeared in the chapter on climate in his  Notes on the State of Virginia , which, when published in 1785, established his membership in the international fraternity of scientists and natural philosophers. President Truman had the Weather Bureau deliver the morning weather map to his Oval Office desk every morning. He once told Francis Reichelderfer, then Chief of the Weather Bureau, "Your forecasts are no damn good!" Harry was al...

Arrowhead Stadium in the snow. Photo of by Tristan via Twitter AccuWeather  recently published an interesting article and poll on the subject of the NFL and its policy of playing most games during adverse weather. Before I make my suggestions I want to make a couple of clarifications.  The 2018 Miami-Tennessee game was delayed by lightning, not just by rain.  NFL games are  rescheduled in event of a hurricane. They did just that in 2005 when Hurricane Wilma threatened a Chiefs v Miami game.  My opinion: Things should continue as they are. NFL games should continue to be played in the snow and cold and similar conditions. It is part of the tradition of the game. However, I would make two changes: Lightning delays often last too long in both college football and the NFL. This is due to the both using outdated science.  As the article points out, there is far too much risk and disorganization when combining tornado risks and football stadiums full of fans...

  Today Yesterday I never thought I would find myself agreeing with Noam Chomsky but he is right on the money. Liberals used to champion the Bill of Rights. 

Photo: VisitWichita As vaccinations progress and the first glimmers of herd immunity take hold in the spring, I'd like to invite you to visit Wichita and the Kansas Flint Hills.  Here is a long list of reasons why Wichita is an undiscovered gem . I lay out a vacation agenda, here .  The Flint Hills in May and June are spectacular.  The Flint Hills is the last stand of tallgrass prairie in the world. The vast area of stunning deep green is nothing like you will see anywhere else.  So, consider visiting. You will be glad you did. 

I guess with Joe Biden being sworn in next week it means that agricultural trade with China will increase. So, it was not a total surprise to learn Bill and Melina Gates are now the #1 farmers in the USA . Much of their farmland is in Nebraska, home to Bill's best friend Warren Buffett.  I'm confident they will be following in the steps of Oliver and Lisa Douglas in their embrace of the Cornhusker State as depicted in the CBS sitcom Green Acres.  Green Acres  had a very catchy theme song. You can click on the music here and I've updated the lyrics below. The lyrics begin to be sung 15 seconds in.  [Bill] Nebraska is the place to be. Farm livin’ is the life for me.   Sand Hills spreading out so far and wide.   Keep Seattle, just give me that countryside.     [Melinda] Seattle's where I’d rather stay.   My shoes don’t like that ‘husker clay.    I just adore the Space Needle’s sights.   Shopping at Borsheims just doesn’t seem so...