tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36250777402144103202024-03-19T07:26:29.918-04:00The FROG BLOG discusses the latest news on the environment, wildlife, animal rights, and science in general. To post your own article on FROG BLOG, submit here: <a href="mailto:submissions@FrogBook.com?subject=My%20Article&body=Dear%20FROG%20BLOG:">Submissions@FrogBook.com</a><br><center><a href="http://www.frog.cc"><img src="http://froginawell.com/blog.png" title="FrogBook is brought to you by www.Frog.cc, click here!"></a></center>Frog Blog Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086939950507122287noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625077740214410320.post-5741539828183604932015-11-25T15:14:00.000-05:002015-12-27T22:34:49.315-05:00CLIMATE CHANGE SIRED SYRIAN WAR: CHARLES <font size=3>Other Causes Hitching Their Wagons To Climate Change </font size=3>
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On November 23rd, Price Charles gave an interview to SkyNews, ahead of the UN's climate summit in Paris (COP21). He suggested that Climate Change was the root cause of the Syrian civil war and the resultant refugee crisis. Prince Charles said, "And, in fact, there's very good evidence indeed that one of the major reasons for this horror in Syria, funnily enough, was a drought that lasted for about five or six years, which meant that huge numbers of people in the end had to leave the land." To watch the entire interview, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbQe14LRJEA" target="_blank">click here</a>.
<br><br>This is not the first time Prince Charles meddled in political matters. In our earlier article, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/02/anti-vaxxers-and-homeopaths-are-idiots.html" >"Anti-Vaxxers And Homeopaths Are Idiots!"</a> Prince Charles tried to influence the U.K.'s National Health Service by recommending alternative cures, such as naturopathic and homeopathic remedies.
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<img src="http://i.imgur.com/6wWLe6y.png">
~ Will Prince Charles destroy over 900 years of monarchy?
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In the Age of the Information, honesty and integrity are very important, as people can verify what you say so easily on the Internet now. And people in general are more knowledgeable today compared to earlier generations. Even if you think your cause is just, over zealousness can sometimes make you spread untruths and misinformation. And exaggerations and wild theories are an epidemic! By mashing unrelated issues together, you will appear OPPORTUNISTIC and disingenuous, losing credibility and effectiveness with your base. By capitalizing on the tragedy and misery of an unrelated event, some might even consider that as unethical. In our earlier article, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/09/shark-fin-sales-drop-by-70-in-china.html">"Shark Fin Sales Drop Up To 70% In China,"</a> we discuss the successful ways to conduct cyber activism via the Internet and social media.
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~ Charles says the Syrian crisis was caused by a DROUGHT. Really?
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There is no proof that the Syrian civil war and the refugee crisis are caused by Climate Change. This is because we can't be sure that the drought and weather patterns were definitely caused by Global Warming – let alone that the drought directly caused the Syrian civil war. There have been droughts for thousands of years, and not all of them have caused political turmoil. And there have been many periods of political and social upheaval while no droughts or any natural disasters existed. It is highly probable that the current crisis in Syria is/was primary caused by political reasons, with the Arab Spring being one of the major catalysts.
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~ The Middle East situation is very, very complex.
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In turn, there are many other causes that have hitched their wagons onto the Climate Change issue – trying to take advantage of one of the most important and publicized problems of our time. Vegans, anarchist, communists, and even religious activists all want a piece of the Climate Change action.
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The vegans, people who want cut out all animal products from our diet, argue that livestock produce greenhouse gasses and therefore are causing Climate Change. In regard to CO2 (carbon dioxide), livestock are CARBON NEUTRAL. The grains and grasses that they eat are not unlike the ethanol produced from corn and sugarcane to run our biofuel cars. But grass are a little better for the environment than soybean meal and corn because of the fertilizers that they use. However, in regard to methane produced by farm animals, another greenhouse gas, the vegans have a point. But that is mostly attributed to cattle and dairy cows, <a href="http://i.imgur.com/llr0RIm.png" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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~ PETA's questionable claims.
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There is no proof that less land and habitat would be cleared for farming if we produced more plant-based foods for humans instead of for animals. If we need to get the same amount of nutrients from plant foods as from animals products, a greater amount and diversity of fruits and vegetables must be eaten; and more land might have to be cleared for more cultivation of a larger variety of crops. From the Harvard School of Public Health: "Animal sources of protein tend to deliver all the amino acids we need. Other protein sources, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds, lack one or more essential amino acids," <a href="http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/protein/" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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<img src="http://i.imgur.com/f5K3Mwn.png" width=400 height=594>
~ This EPA chart contradicts some of the PETA claims.
<br><br>In the chart above from the Environmental Protection Agency, the 9% emissions from agriculture includes greenhouse gasses from livestock such as cows, agricultural soils, and rice production. And there is no proof that if Americans switched to an all-plant diet there would be less greenhouse-gas emissions from electricity use, transportation, fertilizers, and other inputs of food production. In fact, a greater quantity and variety of fruits, vegetables, and grains would more likely travel farther distances – with higher frequency – to reach national and international markets, burning up more carbon in the process, <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/environment/climatechange/7219223/Becoming-vegetarian-can-harm-the-environment.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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<img src="http://www.ers.usda.gov/media/1188900/trade_fig03.png" width=400 height=320>
~ Historically, less animal products are imported than plant foods.
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FrogBook.com thinks this debate is inconclusive, and vegan activists who tell you otherwise are exploiting the Climate Change issue and public ignorance for their own ends. But eating fewer steaks and drinking less milk as an adult is probably better for your health and for the planet (however, even that is far from being totally conclusive, read this <font color=red><b>updated article [Dec. 14, 2015]</font color=red></b>: <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-14/impact-of-cattle-on-methane-emissions-downgraded/7027088" target="_blank">"Cows off the hook as scientists downgrade impact of beef and dairy cattle on Australia's methane emissions by 24pc"</a>).
At any rate, being a vegan will likely NOT save the planet. For more information on the vegan diet, read our earlier article, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/new-vegan-video-causes-controversy.html" >"New Vegan Video Causes Controversy."</a>
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Whether you are using Climate Change to pitch veganism or anti-consumerism, or you are using political conflicts to increase awareness of Global Warming, the result will ultimately be less credibility all around – hurting all the causes involved as cynicism grips the public.
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<center><font size=7><b>* * *</center></font size=7></b>
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<b>For related articles in the Frog Blog:</b>
<br />- Nuclear Power Is Best For Climate Change <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/08/nuclear-power-is-best-for-climate-change.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- Mini Ice Age Coming In 2030: Scientists <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/07/mini-ice-age-coming-in-2030-scientists.html">Click here.</a>
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- Oil Crash Could End Fracking & Oil Sands <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/12/oil-crash-could-end-fracking-oilsands.html">Click here.</a>
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- U.S. To Cut CO2 Emissions By 1/3 In 15 Yrs. <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/us-to-cut-co2-emissions-by-13-in-15-yrs.html">Click here.</a>
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- Obama Likely To Approve Keystone XL <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/04/obama-likely-to-approve-keystone-xl.html">Click here.</a>
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- U.N. Climate Report Spells Disaster <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.ca/2013/10/un-climate-report-spells-disaster.html">Click here.</a>
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- Arctic Ice Grew By 30% – Global Cooling? <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/arctic-ice-grew-by-30-global-cooling.html">Click here.</a>
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- Keystone Pipeline Would Be A Disaster <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/03/keystone-pipeline-would-be-disaster.html">Click here.</a>
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- Arctic Ice Melts To Lowest Level Ever <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/08/artic-ice-melts-to-lowest-level-ever.html">Click here.</a>
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- Rick Perry Calls Global Warming A Hoax <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/rick-perry-says-global-warming-hoax.html">Click here.</a>
<br>- Climate-Change Deniers Gain In Congress <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/climate-change-deniers-make-gains-in.html">Click here.</a>
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- Palin Blames "Greenies" For BP Oil Spill <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/palin-blames-greenies-for-oil-spill.html">Click here.</a>Frog Blog Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086939950507122287noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625077740214410320.post-37538522793315300612015-10-27T23:01:00.000-04:002015-11-16T18:28:04.837-05:00ANTI-VAXXERS SAY AUTISTIC MUPPET IS A PLOT<font size=3>Anti-Vax Nuts Think Julia Justifies "Vaccination Injuries"</font size=3>
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On October 21st, Sesame Street introduced the first autistic Muppet to the world, Julia. It is hoped that Julia will cultivate a greater sense of inclusiveness among children. The reduction of stigma and the promotion of understanding and knowledge can only be a good thing. Sherrie Westin, Executive Vice President of Global Impact and Philanthropy at Sesame Workshop said: "Sesame Workshop is uniquely positioned to play a meaningful role in increasing peoples' understanding about autism. This project is an extension of the belief we've always promoted: 'we are all different, but all the same.'"
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Read our earlier article: <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/unvaccinated-kids-banned-in-nyc-schools.html">"Unvaccinated Kids Banned In NYC Schools," click here</a>.
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~ Sesamestreet.org Storybook, <a href="http://autism.sesamestreet.org/storybook-we-are-amazing/" target="_blank">click here</a>
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But a bunch of crackpots are already attacking Julia, hoping to draw attention to the unproven and ridiculous claim linking vaccines to autism. In their paranoid minds, Julia is a ruse used to normalize autism caused by vaccination. The crazy implication here is that ONLY vaccines cause autism and that ALL methods used to address the autism issue in society are somehow related to vaccines.
<br><br>Today, scientists are still not sure what causes autism. It is a condition of abnormal brain development and it is not a disease. Genetics may play a role. But one thing is certain, there is absolutely no proof that vaccines cause autism. This is the position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/concerns/autism.html" target="_blank">click here</a>. Even the Autism Science Foundation says this theory is not true, <a href="http://www.autismsciencefoundation.org/autismandvaccines.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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~ Julia is about inclusiveness, not vaccines.
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One of the critics of Julia, whom the Frog Blog believes is either a kook or a shyster, is Mike Adams. He believes there is a vaccine social-engineering plot and a cover-up that are the result of collusion between Sesame Street, the CDC, the mainstream media, Big Pharma, and the United States government. Worse than that, Adams charges that Julia promotes vaccines and that would make autism more prevalent. It's delusional.
<br><br>Mike Adams is the founder of NaturalNews.com. In our opinion, it's just a rag of misinformation and we recommend that our readers not waste their time on it.
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~ Conspiracy theorist Mike Adams is a moron.
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From Wikipedia.org: "Adams is an AIDS denialist, a 9/11 truther, a birther, and endorsed conspiracy theories surrounding the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, those surrounding the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and those involving Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. He has endorsed <i>Burzynski: Cancer Is Serious Business</i>, a movie about Stanislaw Burzynski. Steven Novella characterizes Adams as "a dangerous conspiracy-mongering crank." Adams has also written a favorable review of the pseudoscientific film <i>House of Numbers</i> on Natural News, which is reprinted on the film's website. Adams has also endorsed the books of conspiracy theorist Jim Marrs."
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~ Scary autism correlations.
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Most of these ignorant theories about vaccines and other conditions such as autism are based on correlative studies. This so-called growth of autism in society is likely tied to better diagnosis over time, and that "growth" is then correlated by incompetent fools to other data, like that of vaccination rates.
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Also, read our earlier article, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/02/anti-vaxxers-and-homeopaths-are-idiots.html"> "Anti-Vaxxers And Homeopaths Are Idiots!" click here</a>.
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- Donald Trump Says Vaccines Cause Autism <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/09/donald-trump-says-vaccines-cause-autism_23.html">Click here</a>.
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- Anti-Vaxxers And Homeopaths Are Idiots! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/02/anti-vaxxers-and-homeopaths-are-idiots.html">Click here</a>.
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- Unvaccinated Kids Banned In NYC Schools <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/unvaccinated-kids-banned-in-nyc-schools.html">Click here.</a>
Frog Blog Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086939950507122287noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625077740214410320.post-17227384258084923272015-09-23T19:52:00.000-04:002015-11-16T18:31:22.025-05:00DONALD TRUMP SAYS VACCINES CAUSE AUTISM
<font size=3>The GOP has become An Anti-Science Party </font size=3>
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<img src="http://i.imgur.com/1JveNhX.jpg" width=400 height=458">
~ Donald Trump seems paranoid. Or is he exploiting the paranoid?
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On September 16th, at the CNN Reagan Library GOP debate, Donald Trump said that vaccines cause autism. We at the Frog Blog just couldn't figure out Donald Trump. Is he an imbecile, a smart guy, a nut, or a conman? Maybe he's a bit of all of them? But one thing is certain, Trump's claim that vaccines cause autism is absolutely wrong, <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/concerns/autism.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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~ Trump lectures Dr. Carson about vaccines and autism.
<br><br>It seems that Trump is a really a paranoid man. He was, or still is, an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O-87CAAImk" target="_blank">Obama birther</a> – refusing to acknowledge that President Obama is a U.S. citizen and that he is not a Muslim; see a clip of him at a town-hall event in Rochester, New Hampshire – just one day after the debate, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYhDuoba0lI" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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<img src="http://i.imgur.com/IlDcbq9.png" height=344 width=400>
~ Donald Trump's ignorant Tweets about vaccines.
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But according to a recent CNN poll, 43% of Republicans believe Obama is a Muslim. And according to a recent poll conducted by Public Policy Polling, 66% of Trump supporters believe the president is not an American citizen. So, is Trump a moron or a rapscallion? Who knows?
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~ <i>Hugh Hewitt Show</i> (Sept. 21); Trump denies Climate Change.
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Also, Donald Trump is a Climate Change denier. In that same rally in New Hampshire, Trump basically brushed off a question about Climate Change, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdqnYiepWBg" target="_blank">click here</a>. Sadly, based on the booing and hissing, the audience seemed to agree with Mr. Trump. And according to a recent Gallup poll, only 37% of conservative Republicans think Climate Change will happen in their life time, <a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/182807/conservative-republicans-alone-global-warming-timing.aspx" target="_blank">click here</a>. So, is Trump a moron or a rapscallion? Who knows?
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<img src="http://i.imgur.com/AR5f4Hg.jpg" width=400 height=217">
~ Here's that crazy paranoia again (Nov. 2012).
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But Trump is not the only anti-science guy at the CNN Reagan Library GOP debate; Senator Marco Rubio also downplayed the importance of Climate Change. But instead of calling him a Climate-Change denier, it is more fair to call Rubio a Climate-Change skeptic.
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~ Marco Rubio doesn't care about Climate Change.
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And this is not the first time Rubio has been vague about being anti-science. In 2012, Rubio said he wasn't sure if the world was created in seven days or not. Also, read our previous article about Senator Rubio and other GOP politicians: <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/climate-change-deniers-make-gains-in.html"> "Climate-Change Deniers Gain In Congress."</a>
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~ Rubio refuses to dismiss the notion of a 6,000-year-old Earth.
<br><br>At the CNN debate on September 16th, Governor Chris Christie seemed quite reasonable in regard to Climate Change. But it wasn't too long ago that Christie pandered to the more ignorant people in his constituency in regard to vaccines.
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~ Chris Christie and Rand Paul went loony on vaccines in the past.
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Sadly, another candidate on the debate stage, Senator Rand Paul (who is a medical doctor), also questions the conventional wisdom on vaccines. According to experts, his advice would leave children exposed to preventable diseases. So, it seems Donald Trump is not the only idiot in the GOP race that casts doubt on vaccination.
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~ Rand Paul's bad advice on vaccines at the CNN GOP debate.
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See CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta contradict Donald Trump and Rand Paul in regard to their view that vaccination should be spread out, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIThSakgcmI" target="_blank">click here</a>.
<br><br>Now, while Dr. Ben Carson got it right on vaccines at the debate, he is really no different than Marco Rubio in regard to Creationism; he believes in that rubbish – thinking that evolution was encouraged by Satan, <a href="http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/ben-carson-argued-evolution-was-encouraged-satan" target="_blank">click here</a>. Also read this earlier Frog Blog article: <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/gop-rep-calls-evolution-big-bang-lies.html"> "GOP Rep. Calls Evolution & Big Bang Lies."</a>
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~ Dr. Ben Carson is a Creationist.
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We at the Frog Blog have to give Donald Trump a gold star (sticker) for not being <i>that</i> crazy. But again, according to the Pew Research Center, only 43% of Republicans in 2013 believe that humans have evolved over time, and almost half of them believe that this evolution was guided by a Supreme Being, <a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/01/03/republican-views-on-evolution-tracking-how-its-changed/" target="_blank">click here</a>. So, are those Creationists who were at the GOP debate morons or rapscallions? Who knows?
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<b>[<font color=red>Updated Insert – September 30, 2015:</font color = red> Read the article from Salon.com: <a href="http://www.salon.com/2015/09/30/jerk_idiot_buffoon_voters_choose_brutal_words_to_describe_donald_trump/" target="_blank">" 'Jerk,' 'Idiot,' 'Buffoon': Voters Choose Brutal Words To Describe Donald Trump," click here</a>.] </b>
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<b><font size=3>Describe Trump in one word:</font size=3></b>
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/OenBwWp.png">
~ Suffolk University/USA Today poll.
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<center><font size=7><b>* * *</center></font size=7></b>
<br><font size=3><b><font color=red>UPDATE:</font color=red></b> Anti-Vaxxers Say Autistic Muppet Is A Plot </font size=3> <br><br>
(October 27, 2015) Read about the crazy anti-vaxxers and why they think Julia the autistic Muppet normalizes "vaccination injuries," <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/10/anti-vaxxers-say-autistic-muppet-is-plot.html">click here</a>?
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<b>For related articles in the Frog Blog:</b>
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- Anti-Vaxxers Say Autistic Muppet Is A Plot <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/10/anti-vaxxers-say-autistic-muppet-is-plot.html">Click here.</a>
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- Dr. Oz Is Unrepentant For Being A Quack! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/05/dr-oz-is-unrepentant-for-being-quack.html">Click here.</a>
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- Anti-Vaxxers And Homeopaths Are Idiots! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/02/anti-vaxxers-and-homeopaths-are-idiots.html">Click here</a>.
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- Is Atheist Bill Maher A Bigot? <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/01/is-bill-maher-atheist-bigot.html">Click here</a>.
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- Unvaccinated Kids Banned In NYC Schools <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/unvaccinated-kids-banned-in-nyc-schools.html">Click here.</a>
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- Bill Nye Debates Creationist Ken Ham <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/02/bill-nye-debates-creationist-ken-ham.html">Click here.</a>
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- "Cyrus Prostituted Herself": Creationist <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/creationist-cyrus-prostituted-herself.html">Click here.</a>
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- Justin Bieber Attacked Over His Monkey <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/animal-group-blasts-bieber-on-monkey.html">Click here.</a>
<br>- GOP Rep. Calls Evolution & Big Bang Lies <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/gop-rep-calls-evolution-big-bang-lies.html">Click here.</a>
<br>- Climate-Change Deniers Gain In Congress <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.ca/2010/11/climate-change-deniers-make-gains-in.html">Click here.</a>
Frog Blog Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086939950507122287noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625077740214410320.post-60616768807035769752015-08-20T17:32:00.001-04:002016-02-21T16:13:56.283-05:00NUCLEAR POWER IS BEST FOR CLIMATE CHANGE<font size=3>Despite Fukushima, Japan Goes Back To Nuclear Power</font size=3>
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Four years after the Fukushima accident, Japan restarted a nuclear reactor for the first time on August 11th, 2015. Japan has been without nuclear power since the nationwide shutdown was completed in 2013 (50 reactors). Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made it clear that nuclear power is back on the agenda; and his government's goal is to increase nuclear power to 22% of total electricity production by 2030 (before Fukushima, nuclear power accounted for about 30% of Japan's energy).
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And it should not be surprising that there is criticism coming from people inside and outside of Japan. However, Prime Minister Abe's move has also been praised by others, such as many scientists, environmentalists, and journalists – like the editorial board of the Washington Post, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/japans-good-nuclear-move/2015/08/19/6ef73cb4-42b6-11e5-846d-02792f854297_story.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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~ Japan restarts the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant.
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But before we go further, let FrogBook.com first say that environmental activists must start to offer solutions instead of just educating people about the fact that Climate Change is real and that it's a bad thing. Most people already know that now. To preach to the choir is an exercise in getting diminishing returns. People now want leadership and IDEAS. It is quite easy to be fashionable by spewing rhetoric. But it's harder to advocate a particular course of action.
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And we at the Frog Blog endorse nuclear energy as the ONLY viable way for the world to totally eliminate carbon by the deadline set by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – which is the year 2100. The IPCC, a U.N. organization, believes that we must phase out carbon in 85 years to keep global temperatures from rising more than 2 °C above pre-industrial levels. If we surpass this limit, it is believed that the consequences could be catastrophic, <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-29855884" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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<center> <font size=1>Source: Wikipedia.org </font size=1></center>
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/Js12qbH.png" width=400 height=400>
~ Climate Change awareness among developed nations.
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<font size=3><b>The Earth Is Running Out Of Time...</b></font size=3>
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All types of renewable energy, such as solar, wind, and wave power, have a place in society. But the problem is, they all have limitations. To focus on them exclusively as a replacement for fossil fuels is a dead end. Solar technology has been around for over 100 years and modern solar power has been around for about 40 years; yet, it is still a tiny portion of the total energy produced in the U.S. today (see image immediately below). The first time wind power was used to generate electricity was in 1887, in Scotland. Other than hydro, it seems to be the most promising renewable source today with a 4.4% share of the market. But at this rate, we cannot make the IPCC deadline with wind alone. And the world's energy makeup is even worse than that of the United States, <a href="http://i.imgur.com/AsUCFq3.jpg" target="_blank" width=400 height=340>click here</a>.
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<img src="http://i.imgur.com/1FokTZr.png" width=400 height=324 >
~ Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration.
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In many ways, some hardline environmentalists – with their puritanical utopianism in regard to the types of alternative energy that we should or should not be using – are hindering humanity's march toward a carbon-free world; many of them are as hostile toward nuclear power as they are toward fossil fuels. But the Earth's ecology, its wildlife, and humanity itself are running out of time. We don't have time for whiners and unicorns. Read this article: <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2009/may/29/1" target="_blank"> "Global Warming Causes 300,000 Deaths A Year, Says Kofi Annan Thinktank," click here</a>. Climate Change is already HERE and it is irreversible; and that 300,000 deaths per year is just a tip of the iceberg if mankind continues to be complacent or idealistic, <a href="http://qz.com/129122/the-worlds-best-scientists-agree-on-our-current-path-global-warming-is-irreversible-and-getting-worse/" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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Also, read this piece from the World Health Organization: <a href="http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2014/air-pollution/en/" target="_blank">"7 Million Premature Deaths Annually Linked To Air Pollution."</a>
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<center> <font size=1>Source: Climate.gov </font size=1></center>
<img src="https://toolkit.climate.gov/sites/default/files/CDC_ClimateHealthGraphic.jpg" width=400 height=300>
~ Climate Change is HERE NOW and it is killing people.
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<script height="257px" width="400px" src="http://player.ooyala.com/iframe.js#pbid=6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e&ec=5xam5iczrSx4Ibx8MvarDsu3zOG88omE"></script>
<b><font color=red>Updated (Sep. 3, 2015):</b></font color=red> World looks like this if all ice melted.
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<font size=3><b>Nuclear Power Must Double By 2050: I.E.A.</b></font size=3>
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According to the International Energy Agency (an O.E.C.D. agency), the world must double it's nuclear capacity by 2050. This article from Scientific American explains why: <a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/nuclear-power-needs-to-double-to-curb-global-warming/" target="_blank" >"Nuclear Power Needs To Double To Curb Global Warming."</a> And in the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report (2014), it states: "Achieving deep cuts [in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions] will require more intensive use of low-GHG technologies such as renewable energy, nuclear energy, and CCS." Experts predict a more robust endorsement of nuclear is forthcoming by the IPCC as Climate Change grows dire. And according to the Pew Research Center, 65% of the members of the American Association for the Advancement of Science – the world’s largest international scientific society – favor building more nuclear power plants. FrogBook.com believes this percentage will only grow as time passes.
<br><br><center> <font size=1>Source: Wikipedia.org </font size=1></center>
<Img src="http://i.imgur.com/sf4x8Yq.png" width=400 height=364>
~ <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cost_of_electricity_by_source#Levelized_cost_of_electricity" target="_blank">Levelized cost</a>: dollars/megawatt-hour projected by 2020 - U.S.
<br><br>Don't get us wrong, we are NOT against developing wind and solar technology. In fact, they work very well with other forms of conventional energy and they will always have a role in fighting Climate Change. And as we've said, wind power is very promising, and onshore wind turbines have a low <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cost_of_electricity_by_source#Levelized_cost_of_electricity" target="_blank">LCOE or levelized cost of electricity </a> (see chart immediately below). While the cost to produce most renewable energy is steadily dropping, there are other factors to consider. The issue here is RELIABILITY.
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<center> <font size=1>Source: NOAA.gov </font size=1></center>
<img src="http://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/images/news_archives/hem.png" width=400 height=225>
~ Sometimes, clouds can over an entire continent for days.
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A nuclear power plant – operational 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – has an average electricity generation capacity of over 90%. Wind's average capacity is at 33%, while solar is at only 25%. A nuclear plant that generates 1,800 megawatts would need about 1,100 acres or 1.7 square miles of land. Solar panels producing the same amount of electricity would need 13,320 acres or 21 square miles of land. And for wind turbines to produce 1,800 megawatts, they would need 108,000 acres or 169 square miles of land. This means that solar and wind can only be effective in certain parts of the country and under certain conditions.
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<center> <font size=1>Source: U.S. Environmental Information Agency. (Click on image to enlarge.) </font size=1></center>
<a href="http://i.imgur.com/d97v5Qt.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/d97v5Qt.png" width=400 height=220> </a>
~ Nuclear power is dependable.
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For example, some areas are better suited for harnessing solar power than others, such as Arizona and Nevada. But even there, you still need the electric company's power grid for nighttime usage. And for factories that move tons of materials 24 hours a day, such as an auto plant, grid electricity is essential.
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<center> <font size=1>Source: Wikipedia.org </font size=1></center>
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/ojvSBow.jpg" width=400 height=110>
~ Wind and solar are very land intensive.
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Even with all this talk about batteries and hydrogen fuel cells, electric power cannot be stored on a large scale. We must use it as it is being produced and transmitted. The good thing about a house with solar panels is that if it is hooked up to the grid via the meter, excess energy can be passed onto the grid during the daytime while energy from the grid can be used during the nighttime; this arrangement is called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_energy_metering" target="_blank">"net metering," click here</a>.
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~ How net metering works.
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Our point is that this grid electricity, also called basic load energy, is either from fossil fuels, hydro, or nuclear. So, all those well-meaning people who bought electric or hydrogen cars are fooling themselves if their cars are fueled by grid electricity generated with fossil fuels.
<br><br>Therefore, the key to fighting Climate Change is to replace the fossil-fuel power plants that supply the grid. On August 3, 2015, President Obama announced that all power plants must meet the requirement by 2030 of a 32% reduction in carbon emissions (based on 2005 levels). While we at the Frog Blog think this is not enough, it is a good start. Also, read our earlier article, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/us-to-cut-co2-emissions-by-13-in-15-yrs.html">"U.S. To Cut CO2 Emissions By 1/3 In 15 Yrs."</a>
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~ President Obama focuses on power plants.
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We should continue to invest in renewables, but because of time constraints, we must also invest quickly in nuclear power. In our opinion, renewable and nuclear energy development should be planned and executed in unison, not separately.
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The Canadian province of Ontario produces over 85% clean energy, with 60% of it from nuclear. Ontario is a model for the world on how to cut out carbon, <a href="http://i.imgur.com/PMpvB3K.png" target="_blank" >click here</a>. France, too, is using a similar strategy with 75% to 80% of its energy from nuclear. France is the biggest user of nuclear power in the world and it is also one of the world's largest exporters of cheap electricity, <a href="http://mecometer.com/image/barchart-similar-countries/france/electricity-exports.png" target="_blank" >click here</a>.
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<img src="http://i.imgur.com/h1dhViL.png" width=400 height=301>
~ France went nuclear in just 20 years. So can the world.
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<font size=3><b>Costs And Benefits Of Nuclear Power</b></font size=3>
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Both wind and solar installations exact environmental costs, but they are less than that of nuclear power. Wind turbines kill about 300,000 birds per year, which is similar to the number of birds nuclear plants kill. Solar power installations and its mirrors also kill birds with extreme heat, burning them in mid-flight, <a href="http://www.popsci.com/solar-power-towers-are-vaporizing-birds" target="_blank" >click here</a>. And both wind turbines and solar panels do infringe on large tracks of undeveloped land such as grasslands and other habitats of wildlife. And the rare earths used to make turbines, solar panels, and electric car batteries are harmful to the environment during the extraction, refining, and disposal process, <a href="http://web.mit.edu/12.000/www/m2016/finalwebsite/problems/environment.html" target="_blank" >click here</a>. <br><br>
The bottom line is, EVERYTHING has costs and risks. Society must put aside its fears and superstitions and choose a course of action where the benefits most outweigh the risks. As we've mentioned earlier, FrogBook.com is saying that the benefits of nuclear is much greater than that of renewables in regard to replacing carbon, even though the latter's risks are negligible. And now we will try to explain that the risks of nuclear power is not as bad as some people think.
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<center> <font size=1>Source: Wikipedia.org </font size=1></center>
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/CeYm3r3.jpg" width=400 height=233>
~ Fukushima Daiichi nuclear meltdown in March, 2011.
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Most reasonable people would point to nuclear waste and the Fukushima, Three Mile Island, and Chernobyl accidents as perfect examples of the costs or dangers of nuclear power. So let's first look at the waste.
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Did you know that all the used fuel from nuclear power plants that has ever been produced in the United States can fit into a single football field – stacked only three meters high? 70,000 metric tons of nuclear waste has been produced by the U.S. in its entire history. It is estimated that this number will go up to 119,000 metric tons by 2035. In terms of toxicity, chemical waste is far worse and it is more pervasive; it includes the most poisonous substances known to man, such as cyanide, mercury, arsenic, sarin, ricin, and many others. In terms of overall hazardous waste (excluding nuclear), 40 million tons of it is produced <u>each year</u> in the United States, <a href="http://www.epa.gov/wastes/basic-hazard.htm" target="_blank" >click here</a>. And unlike spent nuclear fuel, some of this toxic waste is unaccounted for.
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~ All U.S. nuclear-plant waste ever stored fits into a football field.
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Also, read this article from Scientific American: <a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/coal-ash-is-more-radioactive-than-nuclear-waste/" target="_blank" >"Coal Ash Is More Radioactive Than Nuclear Waste," click here</a>.
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The vast majority of used nuclear fuel are radioactive only for dozens of years and can be disposed of in near-surface facilities. However, about 3% of the total volume of the waste produced will remain radioactive and hazardous for tens to hundreds of thousands of years, and they will need to be disposed of underground. But the good news is, nuclear waste can be recycled in 4th generation reactors.
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<center> <font size=1>Source: Wikipedia.org (Click on image to enlarge.)</font size=1></center>
<a href="http://i.imgur.com/Jbsar6T.png"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/Jbsar6T.png" border=1 width="400" height="220" border=0 > </a>
~ Nuclear reactors in four generations.
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There are many different types of 4th generation reactors, and here are some of their attributes: 1) They produce nuclear waste that is radioactive for a shorter period of time – certain types of waste that would take thousands of years to decay from a traditional reactor would take only hundreds of years to decay. 2) They are able to squeeze 100 to 300 times more energy out of the same quantity of nuclear fuel. 3) They have the ability to recycle nuclear waste, making nuclear power a renewable energy. 4) They are safer by avoiding cooling systems that use heavy water.
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In a nuclear accident, the water could leak, causing fuel rods to emit tremendous radiation – a meltdown might occur. At Fukushima, the backup generators failed and the cooling systems for the reactors stopped working. But a 4th generation reactor, such as a liquid metal cooled reactor, requires no electricity for cooling after a shutdown has occurred. Also, the temperature for a liquid metal to boil is very high (for lead, it is 1750 °C), making reactor pressurization through overheating impossible.
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~ Nuclear waste can be recycled to create more electricity.
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And this brings us to our final point: nuclear accidents' cost-benefit relationship with society and Climate Change. The total number of people killed directly due the Three Mile Island accident was zero; no cancer deaths. The total number of people killed directly due to the Fukushima accident was zero; no cancer deaths so far. The total number of people killed directly due the Chernobyl accident ranges from 31 to 64. However, according to the World Health Organization, 4,000 civilians exposed to radiation might have died due to developing thyroid cancer. But other estimates have been as low as 15 deaths from the thyroid cancer group. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_nuclear_and_radiation_accidents_by_death_toll" target="_blank" >Click here</a>. Of course there is an environmental cost due to accidents as well. But with radioactive decontamination, affected areas should return to normal after a number of decades.
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<b>[<font color=red>Updated Insert – September 5, 2015:</font color = red> In Japan, the government just announced the lifting of an evacuation order for the Town of Naraha, which was affected by Fukushima accident in 2011. Read this article: <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/sep/05/fukushima-japan-ends-evacuation-of-naraha-as-radiation-at-safe-level" target="_blank" > "Fukushima: Japan Ends Evacuation Of Naraha As 'Radiation At Safe Level.'"</a>]</b>
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<a href="http://i.imgur.com/XWroDJj.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/XWroDJj.png" border="0" width=400 height=192></a>
~ Source: World Bank. <font size=1>(Click on image to enlarge.)</font size=1>
<br><br>On the face of it, nuclear power clearly has risks. But if you look at the potential of nuclear power to combat Climate Change, perhaps the risks are worth it (especially with the advances made in 4th generation reactors). Society makes cost-benefit calculations all the time. Between 2003 and 2013, the average number of deaths from motor vehicle accidents in the United States were approximately 41,600 per year. And the safest form of travel – air travel – was responsible for 10,572 deaths worldwide between 2004 to 2014. Basically, nuclear power is FAR less dangerous than flying. To see a chart of <a href="http://i.imgur.com/BKBs5B9.png" target="_blank">deaths per terawatt-hour of electricity by source, click here.</a>
<br><br>The Third World is developing rapidly, and that has pulled millions of people out of poverty. For China alone, 600 million people have risen out of poverty in just 30 years. For the sake of Climate Change, the developed world cannot ask the underdeveloped and developing nations to continue to suffer with hunger and poverty while it itself keeps on squandering the Earth's resources.
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<img src="http://i.imgur.com/r90zP03.jpg" width=400 height=270>
~ The world population will likely be over 10 billion by 2100.
<br><br> The environmental ideologues tout renewable energy and conservation exclusively. But even with President Obama's modest 32% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 just for power plants, that would be equivalent to removing 70% of the cars from U.S. roads. To achieve the IPCC's target, the sacrifices needed would be far, far greater than that. Renewables alone simply cannot fill this hole; and such a sacrifice is untenable to most Americans – they would rather take their chances with Climate Change.
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But renewable energy and conservation working WITH nuclear power on a global scale would work in cutting carbon out of our fast-developing and growing human civilization.
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~ CNN's documentary on nuclear power: <i>Pandora's Promise</i>.
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<center><font size=7><b>* * *</center></font size=7></b>
<br>
<b>For related articles in the Frog Blog:</b>
<br />- Mini Ice Age Coming In 2030: Scientists <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/07/mini-ice-age-coming-in-2030-scientists.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- Oil Crash Could End Fracking & Oil Sands <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/12/oil-crash-could-end-fracking-oilsands.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- U.S. To Cut CO2 Emissions By 1/3 In 15 Yrs. <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/us-to-cut-co2-emissions-by-13-in-15-yrs.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- Obama Likely To Approve Keystone XL <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/04/obama-likely-to-approve-keystone-xl.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- U.N. Climate Report Spells Disaster <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.ca/2013/10/un-climate-report-spells-disaster.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- Arctic Ice Grew By 30% – Global Cooling? <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/arctic-ice-grew-by-30-global-cooling.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- Keystone Pipeline Would Be A Disaster <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/03/keystone-pipeline-would-be-disaster.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- Arctic Ice Melts To Lowest Level Ever <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/08/artic-ice-melts-to-lowest-level-ever.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- Rick Perry Calls Global Warming A Hoax <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/rick-perry-says-global-warming-hoax.html">Click here.</a>
<br>- Climate-Change Deniers Gain In Congress <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/climate-change-deniers-make-gains-in.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- Palin Blames "Greenies" For BP Oil Spill <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/palin-blames-greenies-for-oil-spill.html">Click here.</a>
Frog Blog Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086939950507122287noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625077740214410320.post-65702758652782937692015-07-19T02:32:00.000-04:002015-09-27T16:55:51.601-04:00MINI ICE AGE COMING IN 2030: SCIENTISTS<font size=3>How Will This Affect Climate Change?</font size=3>
<br><br>
In early July, scientists met at the Royal Astronomical Society in the UK, <a href="http://astronomynow.com/2015/07/09/royal-astronomical-societys-national-astronomy-meeting-2015-report-4/" target="_blank">click here</a>. A new model that predicts the Sun's solar cycles was presented and the results were shocking. One of the researchers, Professor Valentina Zharkova of Northumbria University, claimed that the model has an unprecedented accuracy rate of 97%; and this model predicts that solar activity will drop by 60% at around 2030 – possibly creating a mini ice age on Earth!
<br><br><center>
<font size=1>Source: NASA</font size=1></center>
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/JYJneCV.jpg" width=400 height=133 >
~ Changes in solar activity over the years.
<br><br>
This anticipated phenomenon of the Sun has been compared to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maunder_Minimum" target="_blank">Maunder Minimum</a> (also called the "prolonged sunspot minimum"), a period between 1645 and 1715 in which very few sunspots were observed. And during this time, lower-than-average temperatures were recorded in Europe. And it was reported that winters in both Europe and North America were very cold. These types of drops to the temperature on Earth after the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_Warm_Period" target="_blank">Medieval Warm Period</a> (950 to 1250 AD) are referred to as the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Ice_Age" target="_blank">Little Ice Age</a> (around 1550 to 1850 AD, bracketing the Maunder Minimum).
<br><br>
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~ A mini ice age could last decades or centuries.
<br><br>
Before we go further, let us digress: If there has been a long term uptrend of sunspots (expected to top out around now, see NASA video at the bottom of this article), then one could argue that Global Warming might have been caused by solar activity rather than by excessive carbon dioxide (CO2). This has been the main argument coming from Climate-Change deniers for years; and this new theory on the mini ice age is something that they are vigorously promoting. One of their main academic supporters is astrophysicist Dr. Willie Soon of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. And while his research is heavily funded by the energy industry, we should not dismiss his claims without further investigation, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/feb/21/climate-change-denier-willie-soon-funded-energy-industry" target="_blank">click here</a>.
<br><br><center><font size=1>Image created by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Dragons_flight" target="_blank">Robert A. Rohde</a>. (Click on image to enlarge.)</font size=1></center>
<a href="http://i.imgur.com/4cTMiW1.png" ><img src="http://i.imgur.com/4cTMiW1.png" border=0 width=400 height=170></a>
~ Has the long-term uptrend in sunspots caused Climate Change?
<br><br>
The main questions are: <br>
1) Is there really an excessive amount of CO2 in the atmosphere today?<br>
2) Who or what has created this extra CO2? <br>
3) Do different levels of CO2 in the atmosphere really cause changes in the Earth's temperature? <br>
4) Does solar activity really have an impact on the Earth's temperature?
<br><br><center><font size=1>(Click on image to enlarge.)</font size=1></center>
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3c/Evidence_CO2.jpg" ><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3c/Evidence_CO2.jpg" width=400 height=199></a>
~ Atmospheric CO2 concentration from 400,000 years ago to now.
<br><br>
The answers to #1 is 'yes'; as the image immediately above shows, CO2 has risen to unusually high levels after the dawn of the industrial revolution.
<br><br>
And the answer to #2 is that humans are the likely cause of the rise of CO2 in the atmosphere; see video immediately below. According to NASA, 97% of the world's climate scientists believe Climate Change is caused by human activities, <a href="http://climate.nasa.gov/scientific-consensus/" target="_blank">click here</a>.
<br><br>
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~ Fact: humans ARE creating more CO2 in the atmosphere.
<br><br>
The answer to questions #3 and #4 is 'yes' – BOTH CO2 and solar activity probably have an impact on temperature; but the issue here is the relative magnitude of each.
<br><br>
Evidence of the the effects of carbon dioxide on temperature are extremely strong. This relationship has been understood for over a century and has been proven many times through scientific experiments and empirical evidence, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_climate_change_science#First_calculations_of_human-induced_climate_change.2C_1896" target="_blank">click here</a>.
<br><br>
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~ How CO2 warms the atmosphere.
<br><br>
Based on the data we have, there also seems to be a relationship between solar activity and the Earth's temperature. But after 1980, this relationship appears to have diverged (see chart immediately below). This suggests that excessive CO2 may be a much more powerful driver of climatic events than solar activity.
<br><br>
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/bkvLZ2n.gif" width=400 height=268>
~ Is this divergence caused by CO2?
<br><br>
What is quite curious is that this period of divergence corresponded with the rapid industrialization of China a number of years after the death of Chairman Mao Zedong in 1976. China's development has relied heavily on the burning of coal and other fossil fuels, <a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c8/Co2-2013-top40.svg" target="_blank">click here</a>. Perhaps China's CO2 emissions have maintained a steady but steep rise in temperature that otherwise would have leveled off along with the leveling off of solar activity. (The effects on the climate made by China is discussed in our earlier article: <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/us-to-cut-co2-emissions-by-13-in-15-yrs.html">"U.S. To Cut CO2 Emissions By 1/3 In 15 Yrs."</a>)
<br><br>
<center><font size=1> Source: Wikipedia.</font size=1></center>
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/idfpdt7.png">
~ China, India and other developing nations are industrializing.
<br><br>
The bottom line is, there is still a lot we don't understand about solar activity and its effects on the Earth's temperature, magnetic field, radio signals, communication satellites, and power lines (read our earlier article: <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/07/solar-flares-to-peak-in-2013.html">"Solar Flares To Peak In 2013 – Disaster?"</a>).
<br><br>
The possible drop in temperature due to the reduction in solar activity around 2030 would likely to be insignificant, <a href="http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2015/150623/ncomms8535/full/ncomms8535.html" target="_blank">click here</a>. And our current Global Warming situation might neutralize – or at the least mitigate – any effects from a temperature drop that might occur.
<br><br>
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~ NASA explains the solar cycle. "Isn't something to worry about."
<br><br>
On the other hand, if the temperature drop is greater than expected, any mini ice age that might emerge from this solar event is unlikely to be catastrophic, if history is any indication. However, it might still be strong enough to mitigate to some extent our current Global Warming predicament. This second scenario would buy our planet a bit more time to wean off fossil fuels (the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or I.P.C.C., recommends an end to fossil fuels by 2100, <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-29855884" target="_blank">click here</a>).
<br><br><br>
<center><font size=7><b>* * *</center></font size=7></b>
<br><br>
<font size=3><b><font color=red>UPDATE:</font color=red></b> Nuclear Power Is Best For Climate Change </font size=3>
<br><br>(August 20, 2015) Read our article on why nuclear power is the only realistic way to cut out all carbon, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/08/nuclear-power-is-best-for-climate-change.html" >click here</a>.
<br>
<br>
<b>For related articles in the Frog Blog:</b>
<br />- Nuclear Power Is Best For Climate Change <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/08/nuclear-power-is-best-for-climate-change.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- End Of The World Coming In September? <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/06/end-of-world-coming-in-september.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- Oil Crash Could End Fracking & Oil Sands <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/12/oil-crash-could-end-fracking-oilsands.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- U.S. To Cut CO2 Emissions By 1/3 In 15 Yrs. <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/us-to-cut-co2-emissions-by-13-in-15-yrs.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- Obama Likely To Approve Keystone XL <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/04/obama-likely-to-approve-keystone-xl.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- U.N. Climate Report Spells Disaster <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.ca/2013/10/un-climate-report-spells-disaster.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- Arctic Ice Grew By 30% – Global Cooling? <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/arctic-ice-grew-by-30-global-cooling.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- Solar Flares To Peak In 2013 <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/07/solar-flares-to-peak-in-2013.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- Keystone Pipeline Would Be A Disaster <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/03/keystone-pipeline-would-be-disaster.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- Fools Panic As Maya End-Time Nears <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/fools-panic-as-maya-end-time-nears.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- Arctic Ice Melts To Lowest Level Ever <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/08/artic-ice-melts-to-lowest-level-ever.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- Rick Perry Calls Global Warming A Hoax <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/rick-perry-says-global-warming-hoax.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- Doomsday Prophets Are Idiots! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/doomsday-prophets-are-idiots.html">Click here.</a>
<br>- Climate-Change Deniers Gain In Congress <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/climate-change-deniers-make-gains-in.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- Palin Blames "Greenies" For BP Oil Spill <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/palin-blames-greenies-for-oil-spill.html">Click here.</a>Frog Blog Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086939950507122287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625077740214410320.post-43688662384196491212015-06-12T02:12:00.001-04:002015-09-23T13:33:11.150-04:00END OF THE WORLD COMING IN SEPTEMBER?
<font size=3>NASA Was Forced To Address Conspiracists' Claims</font size=3>
<br><br>
According to conspiracy theorists, the end of the world will arrive between the 22nd and 28th of September, 2015 – with the most likely Apocalyptic date being September 23rd or 24th. The supposed methods of our destruction are as varied as the supposed reasons for our doom.
<br><br>Also, read our earlier article, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/fools-panic-as-maya-end-time-nears.html"> "Fools Panic As Maya End-Time Nears," click here</a>.
<br><br>
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/ZMefBuh.gif" width="400" height="332">
~ Some say the Earth will be destroyed on September 23, 2015!
<br><br>To conspiracists, exactly how the Earth will technically end ranges from an asteroid or comet colliding into us, to another planet smashing into the Earth (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nibiru_cataclysm" target="_blank">click here</a>), to a total climate catastrophe, to a nuclear war, to a gigantic earthquake, and to the switching of the magnetic poles.
<br><br>
But the nut with the earliest and greatest impact on this hysteria is probably self-proclaimed prophet Reverend Efrain Rodriguez of Puerto Rico, who says the Earth will be hit by an asteroid in September, causing millions of deaths. FrogBook.com thinks this individual is probably a conman out for financial gain.
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~ It's all nonsense.
<br><br>
As for the supposed reason for our demise, one theory attributes the expected catastrophe to a tetrad – four consecutive blood moons (from 2014 to 2015) – culminating on September 28th, 2015. Another theory claims it's actually the Rapture as foretold by the Bible, to be followed by seven years of Tribulation. And there is a theory that says the pending disaster won't totally wipe out mankind, but it is a sign that ushers in the rise of the <a href="http://gawker.com/5886988/a-comprehensive-guide-to-the-illuminati-the-conspiracy-theory-that-connects-jay-z-and-queen-elizabeth" target="_blank">Illuminati</a> that will enslave the planet in a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_World_Order_%28conspiracy_theory%29" target="_blank">New World Order (NWO)</a>.
<br><br><center>
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/NASA_logo.svg/290px-NASA_logo.svg.png"></center>
<br>
Because of the hysteria, NASA has recently released a statement: "NASA knows of no asteroid or comet currently on a collision course with Earth, so the probability of a major collision is quite small....In fact, as best as we can tell, no large object is likely to strike the Earth any time in the next several hundred years....NASA has also made asteroid detection a top priority, and are developing strategies for identifying asteroids that could pose a risk to our planet."
<br><br>But conspiracists say NASA's statement is just a lie that tries to prevent widespread panic. Basically, conspiracy theorists will believe ANYTHING that agrees with their preconceived ideas, no matter how bizarre; and they will reject ANYTHING that disagrees with their preconceived ideas regardless of the factual evidence.
<br><br>
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~ Documentary: <i>Why Do People Believe in Conspiracy Theories?</i>
<br><br>
We can never convince a conspiracy theorist of the truth. The best we can do is to try to persuade them to not take foolish actions that may harm themselves or others. While conspiracy theorists are very stubborn with their ideas, some will listen to you in regard to their possible actions.
<br><br>In our earlier article, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/doomsday-prophets-are-idiots.html">"Doomsday Prophets Are Idiots!,"</a> we reported that some people committed suicide out of fear due to preacher Harold Camping's prediction of the Rapture on May 21, 2011. And many gave all their money away, including to Camping's ministry, only to find themselves penniless on May 22nd (Camping refused to return their donations).
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~ A fool loses his life savings.
<br><br>
So, try to convince people who are into this nonsense to 1) not harm themselves and their loved ones, 2) not abuse alcohol, prescription drugs, or narcotics 3) not give away all their money and possessions, 4) not quit their jobs or close their businesses, 5) not take dangerous risks or spend money recklessly on final thrills, 6) not squander money on survival supplies and equipment as well as on expensive shelters.
<br><br>
Believe or not, many people do these stupid things all over the world in anticipation of one type of doomsday or another. But in the back of the conspiracy theorist's mind, he is still in touch with reality. He is just holding on to a fantasy to escape from the real world.
<br><br><br>
<center><font size=7><b>* * *</center></font size=7></b>
<br /> <font size=3><b><font color=red>UPDATE:</font color=red></b> Mini Ice Age Coming In 2030: Scientists </font size=3> <br><br>
(July 19, 2015) Read our article on how solar activity changes the Earth's climate, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/07/mini-ice-age-coming-in-2030-scientists.html">click here</a>.
<br />
<br>
<b>For related articles in the Frog Blog:</b>
<br />- Mini Ice Age Coming In 2030: Scientists <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/07/mini-ice-age-coming-in-2030-scientists.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- NASA Says We'll Find Alien Life In A Decade <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/04/nasa-says-well-find-alien-life-in-decade.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- Solar Flares To Peak In 2013 <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/07/solar-flares-to-peak-in-2013.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- Fools Panic As Maya End-Time Nears <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/fools-panic-as-maya-end-time-nears.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- UFO Spotted Over Denver! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/11/ufo-spotted-over-denver.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- There Are Billions Of Habitable Planets! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/there-are-billions-of-habitable-planets.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- Doomsday Prophets Are Idiots! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/doomsday-prophets-are-idiots.html">Click here.</a>Frog Blog Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086939950507122287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625077740214410320.post-22670978001501517432015-05-21T17:50:00.000-04:002015-11-16T18:39:18.799-05:00DR. OZ IS UNREPENTANT FOR BEING A QUACK!<font size=3>Food Babe And Others Spread Rubbish On The Net </font size=3>
<br><br>
<center> <font size=1>Photo taken by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/15237218@N00" target="_blank">World Economic Forum</a></font size=1></center>
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/Mehmet_Oz_-_World_Economic_Forum_Annual_Meeting_2012.jpg" width=400 height=585">
~ What the hell is he doing?
<br><br>
On April 23rd, Dr. Oz defended himself against allegations of quackery from other scientists and from the Senate. Ten scientists from around the U.S. signed a petition demanding that Dr. Oz be fired from Columbia University, where he is currently the vice chairman of the Department of Surgery. And five medical doctors and three PHDs at Columbia University are also complaining about him.
<br><br><b>
[<font color=red>Updated Insert – June 13, 2015:</font color = red> Read this article from Vox.com: <a href="http://www.vox.com/2015/6/13/8773695/AMA-dr-oz" target="_blank"> "The American Medical Association Is Finally Taking A Stand On Quacks Like Dr. Oz," click here</a>.]</b>
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~ Dr. Oz doubles down on nonsense. Not really a "medical" show?
<br><br>
To justify his behavior, Dr. Oz also said that his show is really not a "medical" show. That is the most ludicrous thing that the Frog Blog has ever heard. What constitutes a medical show? Do they have to do autopsies and operations on every episode to qualify? Common sense would tell you that a highly qualified medical professional (sometimes wearing a surgeon's scrubs) giving advice on a TV program called "The Dr. Oz Show" would likely be taken by the audience as someone giving scientific advice – not rubbish!
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~ Dr. Oz being grilled by the Senate over "magic" diet pills.
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Since 2009, Dr. Oz has touted so much nonsense that we don't have time to mention all of them here. But this article,
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/melaniehaiken/2014/06/18/dr-oz-senate-scolding-his-10-most-controversial-weight-loss-supplements/" target="_blank">"Dr. Oz's 10 Most Controversial Weight Loss Supplements,"</a> will provide a flavor of what he has been up to. We think the best way to understand why so many people are angry with Dr. Oz is to watch the video clips we have posted below.
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But one of Dr. Oz's transgressions is so unforgivable that it needs to be mentioned here: he supports of the quackery that is homeopathy – essentially treating people with water as a placebo. For more information on homeopathy, read our earlier article, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/02/anti-vaxxers-and-homeopaths-are-idiots.html">"Anti-Vaxxers And Homeopaths Are Idiots!"</a>
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~ Dr. Oz supports the pseudo science of homeopathy.
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The big question is, does Dr. Oz directly benefit (getting a portion of the profits from product sales) for pitching products on his show? FrogBook.com doubts this is the case. But the show does seem to be very important to him as a source of fame, prestige, and influence. And he seems to be willing to do <i>anything</i> to keep it alive. We think he must have run out of material for his daily program years ago and he desperately resorted to junk science and superstition as fodder – keeping things interesting and sensational to prop up his ratings.
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~ Dr. Oz brings a faith healer onto his show.
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While television is an old medium, it too must catch up to the Internet to compete. And what the Internet has done is to reduce the cost of information for the consumer to almost nothing. In the old days of print media, publishers had to invest great sums of money in their products and they had to make sure their books and magazines were factually correct; after all, they were charging people a lot of money for them. This process vetted out the crazy rambling submissions from writers who were anarchists, idiots, and nuts. But today, it is just as easy to publish misinformation as it is to publish REAL information. And many web surfers are duped into believing all sorts of nonsense (people should always check the reputation of online writers and publishers). And what Dr. Oz does is to tap into this market: the misinformed.
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~ The Long Island Medium on <i>The Dr. Oz Show.</i>
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<font size=3><b>The Monetization Of Ignorance</font size=3></b>
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The Internet is a double-edged sword. While millions of people have indeed become better informed today than before, the Net has also created a stubborn minority of misinformed people who have been empowered to embrace and spread LIES. Social media have been able to help a bunch of people with psychological issues (and those who want to exploit them) to find one another and to enable one another in their psychosis – fighting off scientific facts and loved ones' attempts to get them treatment and counselling. They all live in their own little social-media bubbles of ignorance and paranoia.
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~ Conspiracy and anti-science nut Alex Jones is very popular.
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In the age of the Internet, you don't just educate people; you also enable their ignorance and delusions to gain visitors and viewers to sell advertising and/or products on your platform – may that be a TV show, a website, or an app. The trick is to tell people <b>what they want to hear</b>.
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Empowered with the Internet, charlatans can now more easily exploit in vast numbers people with certain fears and misconceptions. One example is Vani Hari, also known as the Food Babe on her website (read this article from Gawker.com, <a href="http://gawker.com/the-food-babe-blogger-is-full-of-shit-1694902226" target="_blank">"The 'Food Babe' Blogger Is Full of Shit"</a>). And what she takes advantage of are some people's obsessive – almost compulsive – need to be "pure," "clean," "natural," and "perfect," perhaps reflecting deeper psychological issues.
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~ Food Babe is a fearmonger. Alex Jones loves her, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvQok77OORg" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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This kind of mentality contributes to the irrational fear of vaccines and other medicines as well as of many types of foods that we eat and drink every day. This also gives rise to the detox industry, selling useless liquid vegan diets, coffee enemas, and mud baths for high profits, <a href="http://www.medicaldaily.com/detox-diet-just-fad-little-proof-its-effective-how-industry-exploits-consumers-313390" target="_blank">click here</a>. The Frog Blog has always endorsed moderation and variety in regard to diet and exercise. And that by definition is to NOT seek out "perfection" – it is an illusion.
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<center><font size=1>Source: Wikipedia.org </font size=1>
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/3hUr7Vr.png" ></center>
<font color=white>------------</font color=white>~ It is natural to die young.
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The bottom line is, modern science has more than doubled life expectancy in just about a century. People like Food Babe and Dr. Oz are willing to compromise the advances we have made for personal gain. While Vani Hari is just an uneducated blogger, it is totally unacceptable that an Ivy League-trained medical doctor and surgeon also jumps on the misinformation bandwagon. It's time Oprah pulls the plug on Dr. Oz.
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<center><font size=7><b>* * *</center></font size=7></b>
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<font size=3><b><font color=red>UPDATE:</font color=red></b> Anti-Vaxxers Say Autistic Muppet Is A Plot </font size=3> <br><br>
(October 27, 2015) Read about the crazy anti-vaxxers and why they think Julia the autistic Muppet normalizes "vaccination injuries," <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/10/anti-vaxxers-say-autistic-muppet-is-plot.html">click here</a>?
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<b>For related articles in the Frog Blog:</b>
<br>
- Anti-Vaxxers Say Autistic Muppet Is A Plot <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/10/anti-vaxxers-say-autistic-muppet-is-plot.html">Click here.</a>
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- Donald Trump Says Vaccines Cause Autism <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/09/donald-trump-says-vaccines-cause-autism_23.html">Click here</a>.
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- Anti-Vaxxers And Homeopaths Are Idiots! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/02/anti-vaxxers-and-homeopaths-are-idiots.html">Click here</a>.
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- Is Atheist Bill Maher A Bigot? <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/01/is-bill-maher-atheist-bigot.html">Click here</a>.
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- Bill Nye Debates Creationist Ken Ham <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/02/bill-nye-debates-creationist-ken-ham.html">Click here.</a>
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- "Cyrus Prostituted Herself": Creationist <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/creationist-cyrus-prostituted-herself.html">Click here.</a>
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- Justin Bieber Attacked Over His Monkey <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/animal-group-blasts-bieber-on-monkey.html">Click here.</a>Frog Blog Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086939950507122287noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625077740214410320.post-22687828185283455702015-04-17T18:44:00.001-04:002015-09-30T22:34:53.439-04:00NASA SAYS WE'LL FIND ALIEN LIFE IN A DECADE<font size=3>But Aliens Making Contact With Us Is Highly Unlikely</font size=3>
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~ NASA's Ellen Stofan: "We know where to look..."
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On April 7th, the top scientist at NASA (Ellen Stofan) said, "I think we're going to have strong indications of life beyond Earth within a decade, and I think we're going to have definitive evidence within 20 to 30 years." However, she quickly made clear that she was not talking about <i>intelligent</i> life. Finding intelligent life would be a very remote possibility and alien contact would be highly unlikely to almost impossible.
<br><br>Also, read our earlier article on space aliens, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.ca/2012/11/ufo-spotted-over-denver.html" >"UFO Spotted Over Denver!"</a>
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~ The Drake Equation. Not many civilizations are in our galaxy.
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The sheer distance between physical bodies in our galaxy would force light (let alone space aliens) to travel for thousands of years just to reach us from a planet that contains life somewhere in our Milky Way Galaxy. And light travels at 186,282 miles per second (299,792 kilometers per second). Read this article about the possibility of intelligent civilizations elsewhere in the universe, <a href="http://www.cnet.com/news/search-of-100000-galaxies-finds-no-sign-of-advanced-civilizations/" target="_blank">"Search Of 100,000 Galaxies Finds No Sign Of Alien Life."</a>
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<object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iZJb6yFDKIw?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iZJb6yFDKIw?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>
~ Our galaxy and our universe are very, very big.
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One must realize that travelling over a very, very long distance comes with many problems that even an advanced civilization has to come to terms with. One problem posed by the laws of physics is getting information on planets where the images carried to us by light are thousands of years old. Basically, if aliens are looking at us, they are looking at our ancient history. And even if one could travel close to the speed of light, Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity says that by doing so, one would also travel through TIME into the future. (But travelling into the past is not possible.)
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~ Whenever you are in motion, TIME slows down only for <u>YOU</u>!
<br><br>If an alien civilization at the other end of the galaxy is trying to reach us, it would take the aliens about 78,000 years to get here even if they are travelling near the speed of light. Because of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_dilation" target="_blank">time dilation</a>, they could never be sure of what their destination would hold for them – they basically wouldn't know where they are really going. If aliens could live for a long time (with advanced cryonic technology) and travel for just 20,000 years to our planet at a velocity very, very close to light-speed (say at 0.99999999c, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_dilation#Overview_of_formulae" target="_blank">click here</a>), they would have travelled to our future many million years from now! We're likely not here by then.
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Some theorists argue that if one of Einstein's other theories – on wormholes – is correct, aliens would be able to see our past, present, and future and travelling through time (past, present, and future) and space would be achievable regardless of distance. However, this theory is likely wrong and wormholes probably don't exist outside of science fiction. Read this article on the subject: <a href="http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2014/11/25/Astrophysicist-says-wormholes-of-Interstellar-unlikely-to-exist/7131416945923/" target="_blank">"Astrophysicist Says Wormholes Of <i>'Interstellar'</i> Unlikely To Exist," click here</a>.
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~ Without wormholes, travelling through space-time is difficult.
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<b>[<font color=red>Updated Insert – May 11, 2015:</font color = red> And what about travelling at warp speed? Read this article: <a href="http://www.space.com/29363-impossible-em-drive-space-engine-nasa.html?cmpid=514630_20150530_45867556&adbid=10152857129526466&adbpl=fb&adbpr=17610706465" target="_blank">"No Warp Drive Here: NASA Downplays 'Impossible' EM Drive Space Engine," click here</a>.] </b>
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Due to the advances made in telescope technology, we now have a clearer picture of the universe and our Milky Way Galaxy. And we recently discovered that the closest potentially habitable planet is just 13 light-years away, <a href="http://io9.com/the-closest-known-potentially-habitable-planet-is-13-li-1585896900" target="_blank">click here</a>. However, we now also know life is unlikely to exist elsewhere in our solar system or anywhere within travelling distance. While we've discovered water on many physical bodies near Earth, they lack the other conditions required for life, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraterrestrial_liquid_water" target="_blank">click here</a>. (Read our earlier article about habitable planets and the Goldilocks Zone, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.ca/2012/03/there-are-billions-of-habitable-planets.html" >"There Are Billions Of Habitable Planets," click here</a>.)
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<img src="http://i.imgur.com/xYcanwn.jpg" width=400 height=220">
~ Having just the right defenses against space weather matters...
<br><br>At any rate, just because there are planets with all the right conditions to support life, that does not mean there are necessarily life forms living there. It's possible the odds of forming and cultivating life with all the required circumstances and elements falling uniquely and sequentially into place are like winning 10 or more top lottery prizes in a row – and Earth is just a statistical fluke of nature! Until humans are able to replicate life from scratch, we will never know for sure the true odds of alien life existing in our galaxy or universe.
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~ Are we alone? Will we pick up alien signals?
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Currently, our universe is only 13.8 billion years old. And the Milky Way Galaxy is only 13.2 billion years old. Scientists think our universe may continue for hundreds of billions of years. In other words, our universe is very young. It's quite possible an explosion of life and civilizations will occur billions of years from now. Humans might just be a lonely start-up relative to the greater scheme of things.
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The best we can hope for as humans is to discover lower life forms on other planets with our telescopes (hopefully NASA is right about its time frame). And if we receive radio signals one day from an alien civilization in either our galaxy or another galaxy, that would be one of the greatest events in human history (although that civilization might have already gone extinct by the time we receive these signals).
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<a name="oilprice"><object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TbU7j3hs_lo?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TbU7j3hs_lo?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object></a>
<b><font color=red>Updated (July 23, 2015):</font color=red></b> Has NASA found Earth's twin?
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<center><font size=7><b>* * *</center></font size=7></b>
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<b>For related articles in the Frog Blog:</b>
<br />
- Solar Flares To Peak In 2013 – Disaster? <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/07/solar-flares-to-peak-in-2013.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- UFO Spotted Over Denver! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/11/ufo-spotted-over-denver.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- There Are Billions Of Habitable Planets! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/there-are-billions-of-habitable-planets.html">Click here.</a>Frog Blog Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086939950507122287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625077740214410320.post-68625552144005821602015-03-16T03:14:00.002-04:002015-07-15T18:06:47.584-04:00CREATION THEME PARK SUES FOR TAX CREDIT<font size=3>School Vouchers Are A Legal Loophole For Creationism</font size=3>
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On February 3rd, Ken Ham, president and CEO of Answers In Genesis, posted an announcement on Youtube, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9VYxYJ1Fxk" target="_blank">click here</a>. The Christian ministry is suing the State of Kentucky for $18 million in state sales tax rebates because the state found his theme park, Ark Encounter (currently under construction), not eligible for the tax incentive due its discriminatory hiring policies against non-Christians. Ark Encounter is a for-profit Creationist park which features a Noah's Ark that is three stories high and two football fields long.
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~ Ken Ham thinks discrimination is a right if you're religious.
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We reported on Ark Encounter in February of 2012: <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/kentucky-tax-break-for-creationist-park.html">"Tax-Break For Kentucky Creationist Park," click here</a>. In that article, we reported that the Christian theme park was approved for a $43 million sales tax rebate for a $173 million project that was supposed to provide Kentucky with many jobs. Now, the project has shrunk to $78 million with a potential tax break of $18 million – if the park doesn't violate any rules.
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<center><font size=1>Photo taken by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/prosserus.photos?__mref=message" target="_blank">Patrick Ross.</a></font size=1> </center>
<img src="http://froginawell.com/pr-dino.jpg" width=400 height=240>~ Creation Museum and Ark Encounter spread misinformation.
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The article also talks about Ken Ham's Creation Museum in Kentucky, which spreads misinformation such as dinosaurs being alive 6,000 years ago. And like the museum, it's likely this new theme park will teach children that Noah's Ark carried all the species of animals in the world, including dinosaurs! There are approximately 1.26 million species of land animals TODAY, which means there was supposedly well over 2 1/2 million animals on Noah's Ark, including dinosaurs, wooly mammoths, and other extinct creatures. Then there is the issue of fresh-water fish species – Noah must have built a freshwater aquarium in the hull! What a pathetic mess of lies.
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<center><font size=1>Photo taken by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/prosserus.photos?__mref=message" target="_blank">Patrick Ross.</a> (Click on image to enlarge.)
</font size=1> </center><a href="http://froginawell.com/pr-horse.jpg"><img src="http://froginawell.com/pr-horse.jpg" width=400 height=265 border=0></a>~ Creation Museum display: animals changed rapidly in 6,000 yrs.
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One might ask, if the theme park promotes religious ideas such as Creationism, why should Ark Encounter be eligible for any rebates regardless of its hiring policies?
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Many for-profit theme parks do promote religious or pagan ideas whether we are aware of them or not. One example is the Harry Potter attractions at the Universal Orlando Resort in Florida, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wizarding_World_of_Harry_Potter_(Universal_Orlando_Resort)" target="_blank">click here</a>. Witchcraft and other pagan ideas are a form of mysticism that many people believe in much the same way other people believe in religion. If the resort were in Kentucky, the studio would likely have gotten the rebate. And if 20th Century Fox wanted to incorporate video game attractions into a theme park that included it's recent movie, <i>Exodus</i> (about Moses and the Ten Commandments), it would also likely be eligible for a tax break in Kentucky and other states with similar tax schemes.
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~ Studios make religious films that could be used in theme parks.
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So, to create a theme park about Noah's Ark is not that much of a stretch. The controversy lies with Noah's Ark being tied to the current political debate between the Theory of Evolution and Creationism (also referred to as Intelligent Design). Sadly, this debate is still going strong in the United States; see our previous article, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/02/bill-nye-debates-creationist-ken-ham.html">"Bill Nye Debates Creationist Ken Ham," click here</a>.
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And as long as the park employees do not claim that their message is a part of the state educational system or curriculum, the First Amendment does protect whatever nonsense that they might be spewing to the public, and the tax rebate cannot easily be revoked. Ken Ham could argue that if kids are exposed to witches and demons at other theme parks that have received government benefits, then Ark Encounter surely should not be penalized for promoting Bible stories.
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<object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VNo7nWJcKeY?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VNo7nWJcKeY?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>
~ Gov't incentives can't be used for religious discrimination.
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However, the issue of discrimination is a wholly different matter. According to Governor Steve Beshear and Kentucky's tourism secretary, the granting of tax incentives is all tied to job creation. And it makes no sense to allow Ark Encounter to discriminate against Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, and atheists (which might include gays, lesbians, and transexuals) when everybody in the state pays taxes, including the aforementioned. The Frog Blog believes Ken Ham's lawsuit will be defeated. The tax rebate is a privilege and is not a right. Ken Ham's claim that it is his organization that is the victim of discrimination – for not being allowed to discriminate – is ludicrous.
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Society must be vigilant in regard to cunning people like Ken Ham who are trying to fill children's heads with rubbish. And they do succeed through clever methods that attempt to circumvent the Constitution (such as with school vouchers and home schooling). And as we have explained above, Ark Encounter and the Creation Museum have already succeeded in this regard.
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<object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0Lwvs_qyxJI?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0Lwvs_qyxJI?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object></a>
~ Politico: <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2014/03/education-creationism-104934.html" target="_blank">"Taxpayers Fund Creationism In The Classroom."</a>
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Since we've brought up the issue of tuition vouchers, let us also mention that according to <i>Zelman v. Simmons-Harris</i> (2002), the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that for a voucher program to be constitutional, it must meet all of the following criteria:<br><br>
<li>The program must have a valid secular purpose.</li>
<li>Aid must go to parents and not to the schools.</li>
<li>A broad class of beneficiaries must be covered.</li>
<li>The program must be neutral with respect to religion.</li>
<li>There must be adequate nonreligious options.</li>
<br> However, the teaching of Creationism in a private school funded by pubic money via vouchers is legally viable even with all the criteria above. But the teaching of Creationism or Intelligent design in public schools is prohibited. Therefore, vouchers are a legal loophole that makes education inconsistent in the United States in regard to public funds. So, it is vitally important that citizens oppose voucher programs at the state level.
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<object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yxwCY03l5Ws?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yxwCY03l5Ws?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>
~ Vouchers: a legal loophole for Creationism. (Taped in 2002.)
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Just because vouchers are constitutional in the eyes of the U.S. Supreme Court, that does not mean a state is obligated to allow them – it is after all the taxpayer's money. But if a state <i>wants</i> vouchers and they do not violate the state's own constitution, the 2002 ruling will support its position, as long as the state meets the U.S. Supreme Court's criteria. Sadly, more and more states are now allowing vouchers. Also, read our earlier article, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/teaching-creationism-is-child-abuse.html">"Teaching Creationism Is Child Abuse," click here</a>.
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[Map Of Publicly-Funded Schools That Are Allowed To Teach Creationism, <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2014/01/creationism_in_public_schools_mapped_where_tax_money_supports_alternatives.html" target="_blank">click here</a>]</b>
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<center><font size=7><b>* * *</center></font size=7></b>
<br>
<b>For related articles in the Frog Blog:</b>
<br>
- World's 1st Atheist TV Channel Launches <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/08/worlds-1st-atheist-tv-channel-launches.html"> Click here.</a>
<br />- Unvaccinated Kids Banned In NYC Schools <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/unvaccinated-kids-banned-in-nyc-schools.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- Bill Nye Debates Creationist Ken Ham <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/02/bill-nye-debates-creationist-ken-ham.html"> Click here.</a>
<br />- Far East Tops O.E.C.D. Education Rankings <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/12/far-east-tops-oecd-education-rankings.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- "Cyrus Prostituted Herself": Creationist <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/creationist-cyrus-prostituted-herself.html">Click here.</a>
<br>- Film: <i>The Unbelievers</i> Attacks Religion! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-unbelievers-film-attacks-religion.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- Teaching Creationism Is Child Abuse <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/teaching-creationism-is-child-abuse.html">Click here.</a>
<br>- GOP Rep. Calls Evolution & Big Bang Lies <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/gop-rep-calls-evolution-big-bang-lies.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- The 2nd "Scopes Monkey Trial" Is Coming! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/2nd-scopes-monkey-trial-is-coming.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- Tax-Break For Kentucky Creationist Park <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/kentucky-tax-break-for-creationist-park.html ">Click here.</a>
<br />- Bachmann Wants Creationism In Schools <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/bachmann-wants-creationism-in-schools.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- Doomsday Prophets Are Idiots! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/doomsday-prophets-are-idiots.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- "Evolution A Myth": Christine O’Donnell <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/christine-odonnell-evolution-myth.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- Creation Vs. Evolution: Darwin Defamed! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/creation-vs-evolution.html">Click here.</a>Frog Blog Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086939950507122287noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625077740214410320.post-19234858969820632932015-02-02T01:24:00.001-05:002015-11-16T18:19:13.616-05:00ANTI-VAXXERS AND HOMEOPATHS ARE IDIOTS!<font size=3>Did You Know Prince Charles Is A Homeopathy Nut?</font size=3>
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<font size=1>Photo taken by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/30692593@N07" target="_blank">Dan Marsh</a></font size=1></center>
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/Wgna17Z.jpg" width=400 height=267>
~ Why is the prince involved in public health policy anyway?
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FrogBook.com likes Prince Charles, who is a supporter of the environment and wildlife. But we are unable to overlook his latest misstep. In January, a book published by Dr. Edzard Ernst (an alternative medicine scholar turned skeptic) claims that Prince Charles got him fired. Apparently, Prince Charles had commissioned a report that advocates alternative cures, including homeopathic remedies, for the U.K.'s National Health Service. And Dr. Ernst publicly called that report "misleading rubbish," generating a retaliatory response from the prince, <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2918600/Top-scientist-claims-lost-job-Prince-Charles-wanted-silence-criticising-report-alternative-medicine-commissioned-royal.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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<br><font size=3><b>What is Homeopathy?</font size=3></b>
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~ Homeopathy is utter rubbish!
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It has been reported that the Prince of Wales and Queen Elizabeth have been treated with homeopathic "medicines," which are essentially placebos – water supposedly diluted with infinitesimally tiny amounts of medicine, if any at all. It's all nonsense.
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Placebos sometimes have a real impact on your physiology, such as affecting blood pressure, pain, nausea, fever, and heart rate. And it has been argued that if the placebo has positive effects, why not use it? The problem is, placebos really only address the symptoms, and that may be more dangerous than not using them at all. For minor ailments such as common headaches and backaches, placebos should not be a major problem. But for serious illnesses such as cancer, placebos can be dangerous because they are not going to shrink your tumor while you delay in getting real medical diagnosis and treatment. Read this article: <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/sep/28/homeopathy-baby-death-couple-jailed" target="_blank">"Homeopathy Couple Jailed Over Daughter's Death," click here</a>.
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~ How the placebo effect works.
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Placebos also work in another way. For example, there is absolutely nothing wrong with you to begin with; and even your "symptoms" are purely psychological. And the placebo merely brings you back to reality. People with hypochondria and psychosomatic issues may respond quite well to placebos such as homeopathic cures. However, directly dealing with the psychological condition through a trained psychiatrist or psychologist is perhaps the wisest course of action for long-term benefit.
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~ U.S. homeopath tries to spread anti-vaccine rubbish to Australia.
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It's bad enough that homeopaths are practising quackery. Some homeopaths and practitioners of other forms of alternative medicine also go out of their way to attack scientifically proven medical procedures such as vaccination as being dangerous. This is of course very unfortunate and unethical as vaccination has prevented millions of deaths around the world, <a href="http://healthimpactnews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2013/06/vac3.jpg" target="_blank">click here</a>. Here are some of the misinformation that some vaccine truthers knowingly promote over and over again: <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2015/02/04/us/5-vaccine-myths/" target="_blank">"5 Myths Surrounding Vaccines – And The Reality."</a>
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<object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_0EMowuPf7I?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_0EMowuPf7I?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>
~ Autism rates went up while vaccine loads went down over time.
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Nowadays, the vaccine truther movement is quite prevalent around the world, <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2014/1/21/5329478/vaccine-preventable-disease-outbreaks-show-anti-vaccine-movement-influence" target="_blank">click here</a>. And the United States is currently experiencing a surge of measles and other preventable diseases that haven't been seen in well over a decade, <a href="http://i.imgur.com/SjUNQ7e.png" target="_blank">click here</a>. In Australia, the homeopathic industry is so brazen that a court in December of 2014 penalized a homeopathic company for claiming that its "product" (likely water) is an effective alternative to the pertussis vaccine, <a href="http://arstechnica.com/science/2014/12/australian-court-to-penalize-homeopaths-for-claiming-vaccine-alternative/" target="_blank">click here</a>. It's about time gullible fools realize that the homeopathic industry and the anti-vaccination movement are driven by nuts, idiots, charlatans, and greed.
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<object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yqrEMJ29qVg?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yqrEMJ29qVg?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>
~ Scammers on the Internet touting homeopathic "immunization."
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People are so confused by the deliberate dissemination of ignorance and misinformation – especially on the Internet – that the U.S. surgeon general is concerned that the current vaccination exemption process is too permissive in certain states, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBRvqMBkUAE" target="_blank">click here</a>. He thinks any further expansion of exemptions by state legislatures is not a good idea. However, lawmakers in California, where the recent measles outbreak began in Disneyland, actually want to end the "personal belief" vaccination exemption altogether.
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~ Vaccination should be 100% mandatory.
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To learn about "herd immunity," vaccines' effectiveness rates, and other related issues, read our earlier article: <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/unvaccinated-kids-banned-in-nyc-schools.html">"Unvaccinated Kids Banned In NYC Schools," click here</a>.
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So, who's to blame? Some people blame Dr. Andrew Wakefield, whose fraudulent research in 1998 incorrectly linked autism to the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6kOxkPJfRM" target="_blank">click here</a>. Others blame actress and former Playboy model, <a href="http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2015/02/04/measles-and-an-outbreak-of-celebrity-stupidity-menon.html" target="_blank">Jenny McCarthy</a>, for spreading the confusion started by Wakefield. Some people also blame the Internet, where nuts and scam artists (like homeopaths) deliberately spread lies and propaganda to hurt public health.
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<script height="225px" width="400px" src="http://player.ooyala.com/iframe.js#pbid=6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e&ec=k4OGtvcjq8opexFd2b9tXycCZXevrQqn"></script>
~ Anti-vaxxers are selfish. Ban unvaccinated kids from schools.
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Some argue that the Internet has allowed hard-headed idiots to form fringe groups that are enablers of delusion, drawing more and more fools into their orbit of ignorance over time, creating manias in society. There was a time when print publishers vetted the information that we got by rejecting crazy rambling submissions. Today, misinformation and superstition are in millions of homes via the computer.
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But the TRUTH is, people really aren't that stupid. Those who do not vaccinate themselves and their children are really looking for ANY excuse to justify benefiting from the efforts of their fellow citizens without having to contribute anything back to society themselves.
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<center><font size=7><b>* * *</center></font size=7></b>
<br /><font size=3><b><font color=red>UPDATE:</font color=red></b> Dr. Oz Is Unrepentant For Being A Quack! </font size=3> <br><br>
(May 21, 2015) Did you know Dr. Oz supports homeopathy, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/05/dr-oz-is-unrepentant-for-being-quack.html">click here</a>?
<br /><br><font size=3><b><font color=red>UPDATE:</font color=red></b> Anti-Vaxxers Say Autistic Muppet Is A Plot </font size=3> <br><br>
(October 27, 2015) Read about the crazy anti-vaxxers and why they think Julia the autistic Muppet normalizes "vaccination injuries," <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/10/anti-vaxxers-say-autistic-muppet-is-plot.html">click here</a>?
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<br>
<b>For related articles in the Frog Blog:</b>
<br>
- Anti-Vaxxers Say Autistic Muppet Is A Plot <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/10/anti-vaxxers-say-autistic-muppet-is-plot.html">Click here.</a>
<br />
- Donald Trump Says Vaccines Cause Autism <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/09/donald-trump-says-vaccines-cause-autism_23.html">Click here</a>.
<br>
- Dr. Oz Is Unrepentant For Being A Quack! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/05/dr-oz-is-unrepentant-for-being-quack.html">Click here.</a>
<br />
- Feral Cat Colony Found At Disneyland <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/11/feral-cat-colony-found-at-disneyland.html">Click here</a>.
<br />
- New Vegan Video Causes Controversy <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/new-vegan-video-causes-controversy.html">Click here</a>.
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- Unvaccinated Kids Banned In NYC Schools <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/unvaccinated-kids-banned-in-nyc-schools.html">Click here.</a>
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- Far East Tops O.E.C.D. Education Rankings <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/12/far-east-tops-oecd-education-rankings.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- Prince William Attacks Rhino Poachers <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/06/prince-william-attacks-rhino-poachers.html">Click here.</a>Frog Blog Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086939950507122287noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625077740214410320.post-28915355963724000562015-01-20T17:48:00.003-05:002016-03-05T14:16:15.066-05:00IS ATHEIST BILL MAHER A BIGOT? <font size=3>Is Islam Prone To Violence And Terrorism?</font size=3>
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<center><font size=1>Photo taken by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sharongraphics/" target="_blank">Angela George.</a></center></font size=1>
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/44/BillMaherSept10.jpg" width=400 height=500>
~ Is Bill Maher really a liberal?<img src="http://froginawell.com/0.gif" width=1 height=1>
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FrogBook.com is an advocate of atheist ideas; and we have mentioned noted atheists such as Dr. Richard Dawkins and Dr. Lawrence Krauss in our articles (see <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-unbelievers-film-attacks-religion.html">"Film: <i>The Unbelievers</i> Attacks Religion"</a>). This time, atheist and comedian Bill Maher has caught our attention. On January 7th, on <i>Jimmy Kimmel live</i>, Maher has doubled down on his controversial opinion that Muslims in general support violence, especially in regard to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Hebdo_shooting" target="_blank">Charlie Hebdo tragedy</a>.
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~ Maher says Muslims applaud Charlie Hebdo murders (4:00).
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It is just wrong to use secularism, atheism, or free speech as a pretext to attack another culture or people. The Frog Blog believes it is one thing to argue against harmful religious ideas such as Creationism and theocracy, but it is quite another matter to single out an entire religious/ethnic group (which invariably includes children) for blame – even if Mr. Maher's assertions were true. There is no point in doing so and it is counterproductive. His views have been called bigoted or even racist – and often by liberals, something that Maher professes to be himself, <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/ben-affleck-calls-bill-maher-views-islam-gross-racist-disgusting-article-1.1963961" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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~ Expert attacks Bill Maher's factual errors.
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And on many issues, he is indeed a contemporary and social liberal. But in our opinion, his position on free speech (as symbolized by his TV show, <i>Politically Incorrect</i> ) actually represents <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_liberalism" target="_blank">classical liberalism</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertarianism" target="_blank"> libertarianism</a>. The term "political correctness" is often pejoratively attributed to the contemporary liberal establishment. Specifically, Bill Maher is really a conservative in regard to issues such as freedom of speech and Israel (more succinctly, he's a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoconservatism" target="_blank">neo-conservative</a> in this respect). And this latter issue might have colored his position on the
Muslims
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~ Bill Maher is a strong supporter of the State of Israel.
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<br>
So, is Islam more prone to violence than other religions or cultures? Or is radical Islam just the symptom of political realities like the KKK was after the American Civil War or the Nazis were after the harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles? Both groups had Christian overtones and both groups were rebelling against the prevailing power structure. Let us note that the Nazis have killed more people in the name of their Christian God than all other religions combined throughout history. Read the article, <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/01/14/are-all-terrorists-muslims-it-s-not-even-close.html" target="_blank">"Are All Terrorists Muslims? It’s Not Even Close," click here</a>.
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<object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fDjdO6viSWU?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fDjdO6viSWU?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>
~ How many Muslim countries has the U.S. bombed? <a href="https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2014/11/06/many-countries-islamic-world-u-s-bombed-occupied-since-1980/" target="_blank">Click here</a>.
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According to the National Geographic, as many as 500,000 Iraqis have died due to both American invasions, <a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/10/131015-iraq-war-deaths-survey-2013/" target="_blank">click here</a>. And without any doubt, Iraq never had any weapons of mass destruction nor was Iraq ever involved with any terrorist groups, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A47812-2004Jun16.html" target="_blank">click here</a>. If you look at what has happened to the Muslim people since the beginning of the 20th Century, why would anybody be surprised if a tiny minority of them resort to acts of desperation? It's because of human nature, and not because of any particular religion.
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<object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5gaMNApYKtU?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5gaMNApYKtU?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>
~ Who invented terrorism in the Middle East?
<br>
<br>Bill Maher has often cited the oppression of many Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran as the reason for radicalism. But this oppression might just be a continuation of the oppression that comes along with being a monarchy (Iran was ruled by a shah or king until the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979). Turkey, however, has been a Muslim-majority secular republic since 1922. It is a member of N.A.T.O. and is not a hotbed of radicalism or terrorism. To put simply, Christian-majority nations tend to be more technologically advanced while Muslim-majority countries tend to less technologically advanced. The main factors here seem to be education and poverty.
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<object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ro6vLHq-g5E?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ro6vLHq-g5E?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>
~ To blame someone for what they didn't do is bigotry.
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While FrogBook.com does not support theocracy – or religion in general for that matter, there is still no proof that the Muslim religion causes radicalism or terrorism MORE than any other religion. It is likely that as a response to unrelenting foreign domination in the Middle East, more and more radical Islamist groups began to gain attention and legitimacy, gradually moving up the ladder of leadership and power – edging out the secularists. (To see a map of U.S. military bases in the Middle East, <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zQVqvB9UmUTc.kCl6RXZmRmIs" target="_blank">click here</a>.)
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Instead of being just an Arab conflict in one region of the world, these radicals have turned their struggle into a global Islamic movement against the West, trying to suck in recruits and funding from 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide (however, that does not mean most Muslims support terrorism).
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<object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/o0fmQTS_ETw?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/o0fmQTS_ETw?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>
~ <i>Munich</i>. Cycles of violence have made matters worse and worse.
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In the clip above from the film, <i>Munich</i> (2005), about the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_massacre" target="_blank">Munich massacre</a> of 1972, the terrorists are members of the Leftist and secular Black September organization, an affiliate of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). By the time this film was made by Steven Spielberg in 2005, Al Qaeda was thought of as the worst. By today, Al Qaeda is considered to be moderate as compared to groups such as the Islamic State (ISIS) or the Boko Haram.
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While the KKK has been around for 150 years, Islamic terrorism (not to be confused with Arab terrorism) really did not start until after 1990, when the first Iraq War took place, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_War" target="_blank">click here</a>. Yet, people like Bill Maher and magazines like Charlie Hebdo have seared into people's heads that Islam is synonymous with terrorism, <a href="http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2015/01/14/using-free-speech-as-a-cloak-for-anti-muslim-bigotry-siddiqui.html" target="_blank">click here</a>. The bottom line is, this is still a political struggle and terrorism will likely recede if Western hegemony stops. Read this article, <a href="http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2014/11/08/to_end_terrorism_by_muslims_end_wars_on_muslims_siddiqui.html" target="_blank">"To End Terrorism By Muslims, End Wars On Muslims."</a>
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Also, read our earlier article, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/08/worlds-1st-atheist-tv-channel-launches.html">"World's 1st Atheist TV Channel Launches," click here</a>.
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<center><font size=7><b>* * *</center></font size=7></b>
<br /><font size=3><b><font color=red>UPDATE:</font color=red></b> Dr. Oz Is Unrepentant For Being A Quack! </font size=3> <br><br>
(May 21, 2015) Are TV doctors doing more harm than good, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/05/dr-oz-is-unrepentant-for-being-quack.html">click here</a>?
<br><br>
<b>For related articles in the Frog Blog:</b>
<br />
- Donald Trump Says Vaccines Cause Autism <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/09/donald-trump-says-vaccines-cause-autism_23.html">Click here</a>.
<br>
- Dr. Oz Is Unrepentant For Being A Quack! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/05/dr-oz-is-unrepentant-for-being-quack.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- World's 1st Atheist TV Channel Launches <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/08/worlds-1st-atheist-tv-channel-launches.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- Bill Nye Debates Creationist Ken Ham <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/02/bill-nye-debates-creationist-ken-ham.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- "Cyrus Prostituted Herself": Creationist <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/creationist-cyrus-prostituted-herself.html">Click here.</a>
<br>- Film: <i>The Unbelievers</i> Attacks Religion! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-unbelievers-film-attacks-religion.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- Justin Bieber Attacked Over His Monkey <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/animal-group-blasts-bieber-on-monkey.html">Click here.</a>
Frog Blog Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086939950507122287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625077740214410320.post-40691272398318529972014-12-19T19:27:00.001-05:002015-11-06T13:55:20.202-05:00OIL CRASH COULD END FRACKING & OIL SANDS<font size=3>But Green Energy Might Also Be Hurt</font size=3>
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Recently, the price of oil (light sweet crude) traded at around $54 per barrel. But analysts predict it can go as low as $40. The price of oil in 2008 reached $147 and was trading at around $107 as recently as June of this year. That's almost a 50% drop in just months! The average retail price of gasoline has now dropped to around $2.50 per gallon (or USD $0.66 per liter).
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<img src="http://i.imgur.com/y20qcQc.png" width=400 height=250" border=1>
~ How low can oil drop?
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Under the leadership of Saudi Arabia, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has decided to not cut output despite falling prices, creating further downward pressures on oil. This is primarily because non-OPEC nations like the United States, Russia, Canada and others are producing oil and gas at full-steam. So, it makes no sense for OPEC to lose its market share to non-OPEC nations while trying to maintain the status quo by cutting back its own sales, <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-18/saudi-arabia-s-naimi-says-difficult-for-opec-to-cut-oil-output.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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~ Frigging fracking is fracking...
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<b>[<font color=red>Updated Insert – December 22, 2014:</font color = red> Read the article from the Telegraph.co.uk: <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/11308952/Opec-Oil-plummets-after-Saudis-says-20-crude-is-possible.html" target="_blank">"Oil Plummets After Saudis Say $20 Crude Is Possible," click here</a>.] </b>
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In fact, shale technology has made the United States the world's largest oil producer in 2014! See our April 14, 2014 article titled, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.ca/2014/04/obama-likely-to-approve-keystone-xl.html#oilprice">"Obama Likely To Approve Keystone XL."</a> (In that article, we had predicted that the U.S. would become number one by 2015; but on August 2nd, we updated a video embedded in the piece to reflect the lastest news.)
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~ What is hydraulic fracking?
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OPEC's move will badly hurt countries that produce their oil and gas by fracturing shale rock and by treating tar sands with toxic chemicals; their cost of production is much higher than what OPEC members have to pay to produce their oil. Currently, the cost of production of oil from the Middle East is around $27; but with Saudi Arabia's large reserves so close to the desert surface, its cost of production may be as low as below $10 per barrel. The cost of production of North American shale oil is about $65. And the cost of production of tar sands oil is about $75. If the market price of oil stays at below their cost of production for a long period of time, many fracking and tar sands companies will have to close. To learn more about tar sands and its toll on the environment, read our earlier article, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/03/keystone-pipeline-would-be-disaster.html"> "Keystone Pipeline Would Be A Disaster," click here</a>.
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<object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9fMx7ywShCk?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9fMx7ywShCk?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>
~ Geopolitical issues at play.
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Besides trying to hurt American and Canadian fracking and oil sands projects, there might also be geopolitical reasons for the actions of Saudi Arabia and its rich Gulf allies (such as Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait). These Gulf monarchies might be trying to hurt a fellow OPEC member – Iran. Saudi Arabia and its friends are Sunni Muslims while Iran is Shiite Muslim. Iran is an ally of Syria, ruled by the ruthless dictator, Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian government is controlled by the Alawite minority that is currently fighting the Sunni opposition on several fronts. It is also fighting against the Sunni terrorist Islamic State (or ISIS). Financial support for ISIS and other Sunni terrorist groups from private Saudi, Qatari, and Kuwaiti citizens is a well-known fact, <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/11140860/Qatar-and-Saudi-Arabia-have-ignited-time-bomb-by-funding-global-spread-of-radical-Islam.html" target="_blank"> click here</a>.
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Iran has been under great financial distress due to the punishing United Nations sanctions over its nuclear program and this oil crash might be designed to rub salt into its wounds, <a href="http://www.salon.com/2014/12/10/iran_fall_in_oil_prices_is_treachery/" target="_blank">click here</a>. In addition, it's possible this is Saudi Arabia's revenge for Iran's past cyber attacks against the oil facilities of the rich Gulf states, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/iran-hackers-attacked-persian-gulf-oil-companies-2012-10" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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~ Ruble's collapse on Dec 16th. Interests rates rise to 17%.
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And as for major non-OPEC oil producer, Russia (also an ally and arms-supplier of the Syrian government), it has been hurting badly from the European and American sanctions over its aggression in the Ukraine; and this oil crunch is making life even more unbearable. The Russian central bank recently raised interest rates to 17% from 10.5% overnight while the ruble turned into rubble. Further deterioration of Russia's currency and financial markets is expected.
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But in general, as the situation in the Middle East deteriorates, Saudi Arabia (with a population of only about 31 million) wants to be a major player in the world again; and by recapturing and dominating the global energy markets, this will give it the power and prestige it needs to be more relevant. The price it is willing to pay for this power is revenue.
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<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b5/Motor_vehicle_efficiency.png" width=400 height=240>
~ Miles per gallon of vehicles are rising over time.
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So, is OPEC targeting green energy as well? The short answer is yes. Without a doubt, aggregate demand of fossil fuels has gone up due to the rise of developing nations like China and India. However, demand per capita in developed nations has dropped greatly due to technological improvements made in the efficiency of cars as well as in the supply of alternate forms of energy such as solar, wind, and nuclear power.
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In addition, the expansion of public transportation systems and the growth of hybrid, electric, and even <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-12-17/toyota-embraces-fuel-cell-cars-for-post-gasoline-future" target="_blank">hydrogen</a> cars are making a real difference. And the public's positive attitudes toward conservation to slow down Climate Change are also making a dent in fossil-fuel demand. Indeed, the public has been buying smaller cars in recent years. But now, with lower gasoline prices, larger cars like SUVs are likely to come back into fashion.
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~ I.P.C.C. hopes to eliminate fossil fuels by 2100.
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Regardless of the public's latest taste in cars, it is always in the back of OPEC's mind that its members cannot hoard the oil forever as green technologies continue to make advances, <a href="http://mobile.bloomberg.com/news/2014-10-29/while-you-were-getting-worked-up-over-oil-prices-this-just-happened-to-solar.html" target="_blank">click here</a>. As time passes, they will be under more and more pressure to sell their oil on the cheap – to sell off their inventory while the selling is still good. As long as the shale technology is there, and as long as the world is determined to combat Climate Change by using more and more clean energy, cheap fossil fuels are here to stay. This will put some pressure on the funding and development of renewable energy. Greater government subsidies will likely be needed in this regard.
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<object data='http://www.bloomberg.com/video/embed/2sDtltYCRduQrtFZ~EQ9jA?height=270&width=400' width=400 height=270 style='overflow:hidden;'></object>
~ Greater subsidies will be needed for renewables.
<br><br>
<b>[<font color=red>Updated Insert – November 6, 2015:</font color = red> President Obama has denied a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline project (see video below. This should not be a big surprise as he vetoed a bill from Congress in February (read the article from Reuters: <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/24/us-usa-keystone-idUSKBN0LS2FH20150224" target="_blank">"Obama Vetoes Keystone XL Pipeline, Leaving It In Limbo"</a>). Besides Obama's concern for the environment, the two other unexpected factors that might have influenced his decision are: 1) the surprising increase in local shale oil and gas production, making Canadian oil less desirable, and 2) the sudden drop in the world price of oil (around $50 per barrel) makes tar sands oil (produced at around $75 per barrel) untenable.] </b> <br><br>
<iframe width="400" height="315" src="http://player.theplatform.com/p/2E2eJC/nbcNewsOffsite?guid=f_dc_obama_keystone_151106" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe>
~ The Keystone XL is dead – for now.
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<center><font size=7><b>* * *</center></font size=7></b>
<br><br>
<font size=3><b><font color=red>UPDATE:</font color=red></b> Nuclear Power Is Best For Climate Change </font size=3>
<br><br>(August 20, 2015) Read our article on why nuclear power is the only realistic way to cut out all carbon, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/08/nuclear-power-is-best-for-climate-change.html" >click here</a>.
<br><br>
<b>For related articles in the Frog Blog:</b>
<br />- Nuclear Power Is Best For Climate Change <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/08/nuclear-power-is-best-for-climate-change.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- U.S. To Cut CO2 Emissions By 1/3 In 15 Yrs. <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/us-to-cut-co2-emissions-by-13-in-15-yrs.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- Obama Likely To Approve Keystone XL <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/04/obama-likely-to-approve-keystone-xl.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- U.N. Climate Report Spells Disaster <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.ca/2013/10/un-climate-report-spells-disaster.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- Arctic Ice Grew By 30% – Global Cooling? <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/arctic-ice-grew-by-30-global-cooling.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- Keystone Pipeline Would Be A Disaster <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/03/keystone-pipeline-would-be-disaster.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- Arctic Ice Melts To Lowest Level Ever <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/08/artic-ice-melts-to-lowest-level-ever.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- Rick Perry Calls Global Warming A Hoax <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/rick-perry-says-global-warming-hoax.html">Click here.</a>
<br>- Climate-Change Deniers Gain In Congress <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/climate-change-deniers-make-gains-in.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- Palin Blames "Greenies" For BP Oil Spill <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/palin-blames-greenies-for-oil-spill.html">Click here.</a>Frog Blog Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086939950507122287noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625077740214410320.post-9211512093141969122014-11-23T19:26:00.000-05:002015-06-26T02:56:18.176-04:00FERAL CAT COLONY FOUND AT DISNEYLAND
<font size=3>Cats Kill Up To 3.7 Billion Birds Per Year In The U.S.</font size=3>
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It has been estimated that there are over 500 million cats in the world today. And according to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), there are over 70 million stray and feral cats in the U.S. (A stray cat is an abandoned or runaway cat while a feral cat is one that has returned to living in the wild, or is born wild.)
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<object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oAdU2-xCXfU?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oAdU2-xCXfU?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>
~ A feral cat "admiring" the ducks at Disneyland.
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About a week ago, Vice.com published a report on a colony of about a hundred feral cats at Disneyland, <a href="http://www.vice.com/read/disneyland-has-a-feral-cat-problem-1013?utm_source=vicefbus" target="_blank">click here</a>. Apparently, generations of cats have been living there since 1955! But these are very lucky cats as Disney has been quietly taking good care of them by providing food and shelter, vet care, spaying and neutering, vaccinations, flea treatments, and tagging. Sadly, outside of Disneyland, reality is very different for feral cats.
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<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3f/Herd_of_Cats.jpg" width=400 height=300">
~ Feral cats fending for themselves.
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According to the ASPCA, a feral cat that lives by itself – and has not been assisted by humans – has an average life expectancy of under two years. However, feral cats in a colony that is aided by humans may live for much longer. Regardless, the lives of feral cats are very harsh (even cats in human-assisted colonies sometimes migrate or are driven from the controlled areas). Some of the conditions that feral cats may face include: dehydration and starvation; drinking dirty water and eating rotten food; braving freezing temperatures in the winter; getting poisoned from rodenticides, insecticides, and herbicides; contracting parasites and diseases like rabies; being tortured and killed by cruel humans, stray dogs, and urban coyotes; and getting hit by cars to die slowly on the roadside.
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~ Indoor cats live better lives than outdoor cats.
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Also, feral cats may carry diseases that can hurt humans and pets. Feline leukemia virus, immunodeficiency virus, rabies, kidney disease, and distemper can spread from a stray cat to a domesticated cat through bodily fluids or bites, making the latter very sick with the possibility of death. And bacterial, parasitic, viral, and fungal infections can spread from your infected cat to you and your family members. Vaccination and keeping your cat indoors are the best defence.
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But outdoor cats' impact on indigenous wildlife is far more devastating. Cats may be killing up to 3.7 billion birds each year in the U.S. alone (ground nesting birds are the most vulnerable). They also may be killing as many as 21 billion small mammals each year in the United States, and that is on top of the millions of native reptiles and amphibians. Cats are believed to be responsible for the extinction of 33 species of wildlife worldwide. The bottom line is, the house cat is a foreign (invasive) species to North America and indigenous wildlife simply did not have time to adapt to its presence. <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-21236690" target="_blank">Click here</a>.
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~ T.N.R. (trap-neuter-return) reduces population through attrition.
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It is imperative that people keep their cats indoors as well as having them spayed and neutered. For feral cats, the strategy of trapping and euthanizing them has proven to be a failure. Community cooperation is vital in this regard and euthanasia often drives away local support. However, trap-neuter-return (T.N.R.) programs seem to be working. While this does not solve the wildlife problem in the short run, it is a viable long-term solution. Often, kittens of feral cats are taken to be put up for adoption as they are capable of being tamed, unlike their parents.
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As the holidays approach, FrogBook.com implores its readers to refrain from giving out ANY animal as a present. Some people, especially children, are not good at taking care of animals. After the initial novelty has worn off, owners may grow tired of their pets and become negligent or even abusive; and as a result, the animals may run away or become abandoned, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/little-shelter-animal-rescue-and-adoption-center/starving-puppy-found-in-a_b_6095956.html" target="_blank">click here</a>. Deciding on whether to keep a pet requires a tremendous amount of consideration and planning. And when a decision is finally made to have a dog or cat as an addition to your family, you will find that adoption is the best policy socially, ethically, and financially.
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~ Stray dogs are also a very big problem.
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While stray dogs have a lesser impact on wildlife, their numbers are just as mind-boggling. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there may be as many as 200 million stray dogs in the world. And their impact on public health and the environment is quite significant, <a href="http://www.livescience.com/27330-dogs-disrupt-wildlife.html" target="_blank">click here</a>. Therefore, spaying and neutering as well as adoption are the best tactics in regard to your dog. Also, always keep your dog indoors or confined to a secure yard; and make sure to leash your dog when you go out for walks (unleashed dogs running into traffic and attacking humans and other dogs – as well as park animals – are common occurrences, <a href="https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/predatory-behavior-dogs" target="_blank">click here</a>).
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~ Pure-bred dogs and cats are less healthy than mix-breeds.
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People love pure-bred cats such as the Persian and Siamese breeds. And poodles and Labradors are very popular dogs. Pure-breeds are a form of status symbol in society. But the healthiest cats and dogs are mix-breeds (sometimes called mongrels or mutts for dogs); they have a stronger and more diverse genetic make-up for longer lives and fewer diseases. This means less vet bills for you. In addition, they are less likely to be in physical and mental pain as compared to the pure-breeds, which are the result of inbreeding and arbitrary and unreasonable selective breeding. <a href="http://www.globalanimal.org/2013/09/09/10-reasons-mutts-rock/" target="_blank">Click here</a>.
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~ Avoid pet dealers and puppy mills as well as <a href="http://www.petsadviser.com/animal-welfare/kitten-mills/" target="_blank">kitty mills</a>.
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<center><font size=7><b>* * *</center></font size=7></b>
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<b>For related articles in the Frog Blog:</b>
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- Shark Fin Sales Drop Up To 70% In China <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/09/shark-fin-sales-drop-by-70-in-china.html">Click here.</a>
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- Asian Carps: Barbarians At The Gate! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/03/barbarian-fishes-at-gate.html">Click here</a>.
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- "Let The Panda Die Out": Wildlife Expert <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.ca/2013/11/let-panda-die-out-wildlife-expert.html">Click here.</a>
<br>- Escaped Python Kills Two Boys <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/08/escaped-python-kills-two-boys.html">Click here</a>.
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- Film: <i>Blackfish</i> Exposes SeaWorld Cruelty <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/08/film-blackfish-exposes-seaworld-cruelty.html">Click here.</a>
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- Bluefin Tuna Sold For $1.7 Million! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/bluefin-tuna-sold-for-17-million.html">Click here.</a>
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- Justin Bieber Attacked Over His Monkey <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/animal-group-blasts-bieber-on-monkey.html">Click here.</a>
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- Moron Lets Infant Play With A Gorilla <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/09/moron-lets-infant-play-with-gorilla.html">Click here.</a><br>
- Prince William Attacks Rhino Poachers <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/06/prince-william-attacks-rhino-poachers.html">Click here.</a><br>
- Exotic Animals To Return To Zanesville! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/exotic-animals-to-return-to-zanesville.html">Click here.</a><br>
- Bluefin Tuna Sold For A Record $736,000 <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/bluefin-tuna-sold-for-record-736000.html">Click here.</a><br>
- 50 Exotic/Rare Animals Killed In Ohio <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/56-exotic-animals-killed-in-ohio.html">Click here.</a>
Frog Blog Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086939950507122287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625077740214410320.post-49178318232026398362014-10-22T15:31:00.002-04:002015-11-29T18:59:12.404-05:00NEW VEGAN VIDEO CAUSES CONTROVERSY<font size=3>The Vegan Diet Won't Kill You, But It Has Its Problems</font size=3>
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On October 1st, a video of Kelly Atlas and other activists storming into a restaurant was published on YouTube. In just about a week, that video received half a million hits. Kelly sobs and rants about how that restaurant and others like it are animal abusers. She also talks about her "little girl," a chicken named Snow, and what a sin it is to eat her or even just her eggs. As far as the Frog Blog can gather, the overall public response to this silly stunt is very negative (social media call Atlas the "Chicken Lady"); and people blame "those animal rights activists" as a whole for being too radical – but the mainstream animal rights movement does not condone this nonsense.
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~ Idiot Chicken Lady hurts the ENTIRE animals rights movement.
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FrogBook.com thinks meat consumption in the United States is far too high and unhealthy and we would like to see a dramatic drop in this regard, particularly in the consumption of red meat (see U.S.D.A. chart below). However, we believe the vegan movement is wrong-headed and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veganism" target="_blank">vegan diet</a>, which excludes all animal meat and animal products, is unhealthy. According to many vegan groups (as illustrated by the video above), NO animal should be killed (including fish and oysters), nor should you even drink their milk, eat their eggs, eat their honey, or wear their wool. This is considered animal exploitation and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speciesism" target="_blank">"speciesism,"</a> a ludicrous and radical idea that totally disregards the food chain in the eco-system.
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Humans belong to the Hominidae family (great apes); and like our cousins such as the chimpanzees, orangutans, and gorillas, early human were omnivores in the wild, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omnivore#Omnivorous_mammals" target="_blank">click here</a>. Human left Africa about 50,000 years ago to migrate to Europe, Asia, and the Americas, following the herd animals. But humans were probably eating meat before that, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/science/2012/sep/23/human-hunting-evolution-2million-years" target="_blank">click here</a>. Agriculture did not begin until the Neolithic period, about 10,000 year ago.
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Frog Blog fully supports the mainstream animals rights groups and their position on "humane eating" as well as their plans to improve the horrendous conditions faced by livestock today. Such organizations include the <a href="https://www.aspca.org/" target="_blank">ASPCA</a>, and the <a href="https://www.humanesociety.com/" target="_blank">Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)</a>.
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<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6d/USDA_Food_Pyramid.gif" width=400 height=312>
~ Eat whole grains & veggies, some fruits, a bit of meat & dairy.
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It is likely that the vegan diet is less unhealthy than a diet that is very high in meat and saturated fat – especially in regard to heart disease and cancer. In other words, despite its shortcomings, the vegan diet shouldn't kill you! Still, just because too much of something is bad for you, it doesn't follow that eliminating ALL these things from your diet is a good thing. Moderation and variety are the key to good health. You want to consume as many different nutrients from as many different sources as possible. Picky eaters become sick, whether their diet is made up of all meat or all vegetable. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._Jay_Dinshah" target="_blank">H. Jay Dinshah</a>, founder of the American Vegan Society, died at the age of 66 from a heart attack. And <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Atkins_(nutritionist)" target="_blank">Dr. Robert Atkins</a>, the father of the high-protein Atkins Diet, suffered from heart disease; he was only 72 when he died.
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The best diet is likely one that resembles the great variety of foods that early hunters-gatherers ate – while still undergoing the evolutionary process through natural selection. They ate lots of fruits and vegetables, nuts and berries, seeds and grains, legumes and mushrooms, roots and tubers, eggs and insects. And when they could get it, meat was a good source of protein – mostly animals such as fish, crustaceans, rodents (like rabbits), amphibians and reptiles, birds (like fowl), plus a bit of red meat like wildebeests and wild boars (which would be more dangerous to hunt). Evolution likely made hunters-gatherers take maximum nutritional advantage out of these foods – and in these proportions. It should not be surprising that the diet of early humans has some similarities to the food pyramid above.
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<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Indig1.jpg" width=400 height=220>
~ Hunters-gathers did not eat meat everyday.
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Eliminating all animal products has its risks. The bottom line is, animal protein is built from a full range of amino acids that we need while vegetable protein is not, <a href="http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/protein/" target="_blank">click here</a>. And there is the issue of vitamin and nutritional deficiencies (especially in vitamin B12, iron, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids). And for <i>some</i> vegans, these deficiencies may actually play a role in having them develop <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21872435" target="_blank">cardiovascular diseases</a>; however, more research is needed in this regard (here is another study that looks at the effects of B12 and omega-3 deficiencies in regard to blood clots and the hardening of the arteries, <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110202082307.htm" target="_blank">click here</a>). In addition, in a study published by the University of Graz, in Austria, in February of 2014, there seems to be correlative evidence that vegetarians are less healthy and have a lower quality of life over the long run, <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/fetchObject.action?uri=info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0088278.t003&representation=PNG_L" target="_blank">click here</a>. According to <i>Psychology Today</i>, the vast majority of vegetarians eventually quit; 35% of them say declining health is the reason for their decision. Also, learn the story about the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr-XK-Esm1Y" target="_blank">Blonde Vegan</a> as well as the stories of <a href="http://www.theimproper.com/12076/angelina-jolie-vegan-diet-left-me-malnourished/" target="_blank">Angelina Jolie</a>, <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/apr/15/bill-clinton-falls-vegan-diet-wagon-not-vegan-labe/" target="_blank">President Bill Clinton</a>, and the <a href="http://www.ecorazzi.com/2008/12/16/paul-mccartney-reveals-shock-in-dalai-lamas-meat-eating-ways/" target="_blank">Dalai Lama</a>.
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<b>[<font color=red>Updated Insert – December 2, 2014:</font color = red> Read a recent article from <i>Psychology Today</i>: <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/animals-and-us/201412/84-vegetarians-and-vegans-return-meat-why" target="_blank">"84% Of Vegetarians And Vegans Return To Meat. Why? – Animal Activists Should Emphasize Reduction, Not Elimination, Of Eating Meat</a>.] </b>
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~ Vegan mother's vitamin-deficient breast milk made her baby sick.
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The vegan diet has greater consequences for children than for adults. Science has shown that children need more saturated fat in their diet for brain and nerve development, <a href="http://authoritynutrition.com/top-8-reasons-not-to-fear-saturated-fats/" target="_blank">click here</a>. Also, milk is required for bone and height development and children who are deprived of milk tend to be shorter, <a href="http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/80/4/1088.2.short" target="_blank">click here</a>. The Thai government is encouraging children to drink more cow's milk, with the goal of an increase in height of 8cm or about 3 1/4 inches, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/03/thais-told-drink-milk-boost-height" target="_blank">click here</a>.
And the Swiss government recently announced that the vegan diet "can cause serious harm" to children, <a href="http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2014/09/17/Swiss-government-Vegan-diet-bad-for-kids/6161410965963/?spt=su" target="_blank">click here</a>. In our opinion, if you insist on feeding your kids a "vegetarian" diet, the pescetarian diet is better than a vegan diet, because the pescetarian diet allows for dairy, eggs, fish, and honey, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pescetarianism" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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Another solution for some vegans is to find meat substitutes, such as by absorbing vitamin D from sunlight, and by eating MORE of certain vegetarian foods rich in nutrients otherwise found in animal products. Such foods include soy (protein), broccoli (calcium), flaxseed oil (Omega 3), mushrooms grown under ultraviolet light (vitamin D), and spinach (iron). However, besides sunlight (which can be a problem at higher latitudes), vitamin D is hard to come by even from an omnivorous diet let alone a vegan one. And it doesn't come from many vegetarian sources – while vitamin B12 comes only from animal products. And a vitamin B12 and D-deficient diet has many problems; to learn more about the problems from vitamin B12 deficiency, <a href="http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/guide/vitamin-b12-deficiency-symptoms-causes" target="_blank">click here</a>; to learn more about the problems from vitamin D deficiency, <a href="http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/vitamin-d-deficiency" target="_blank">click here</a>; (for further information in regard to vitamin D and cardiovascular diseases and cancer, <a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/278323.php" target="_blank">click here</a>).
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~ Do supplements work? A balanced diet works better.
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The best sources of vitamin B12 are red meat, cheese, fish, shellfish, and eggs; for more information on vitamin B12 and its sources, <a href="http://www.healthaliciousness.com/articles/foods-high-in-vitamin-B12.php" target="_blank">click here</a>. Fish, cow's milk (which is always fortified), and eggs are good sources of vitamin D; for more information on vitamin D and its sources, <a href="http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20504538,00.html" target="_blank">click here</a>. For vegans, consuming lots of supplements and fortified foods such as vitamin-enriched soy milk and cereals is their only option. However, not all milk substitutes such as almond milk are automatically fortified with vitamin D and other nutrients; read labels carefully, <a href="http://www.thestar.com/life/health_wellness/2014/10/20/milk_substitutes_short_on_vitamin_d_study.html" target="_blank">click here</a>. But one has to ask, if your diet needs a lot of supplements, how healthy and natural <i>is</i> it? And we're still not really sure if supplements are totally safe or that they actually work at all, <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/12/16/vitamin-supplements-research/4042037/" target="_blank">click here</a>. (Also, learn about the possible risks associated with calcium supplements, <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20671013" target="_blank">click here</a>.)
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Because of physiological constraints, it is hard to argue for animals' absolute right to life. Certain animals are designed by nature and man to be eaten. In nature, the food chain is a part of the ecological system. The sick and weak that are eaten by predators help the herd prevent overpopulation and disease – which can destroy the entire herd. However, what humans can do is to reduce cruelty and animal suffering within society. This inclination can only be categorized as subjective morality and has nothing to do with science – but there is nothing wrong with that. However, morality that ignores science and facts is no virtue and can only be considered as fanaticism.
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~ Death is an important part of ecology.
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There are political and social implications to the vegan agenda – from touching on women's reproductive rights (if you can't kill an animal or even eat its unfertilized eggs, then why is it okay to abort a human fetus, <a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/article/359761/pro-life-pro-animal-matthew-scully" target="_blank">click here</a>), to the hunting rights of indigenous peoples (such as the Inuit and the tribes of the Amazon, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/apr/18/kalahari-bushmen-hunting-ban-prince-charles" target="_blank">click here</a>), to the ownership of dogs (omnivores) and cats (obligate carnivores), to the breeding programs of endangered beasts of prey in captivity (the survival of predators is vital to the survival of ecological balance, <a href="http://www.livescience.com/4171-top-predators-key-ecosystem-survival-study-shows.html
" target="_blank">click here</a>).
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The best that we can do is to use scientific facts to encourage people who are already consuming too much meat to REDUCE their intake for better health. We shouldn't tell people to move from one unhealthy diet to another (and worse, from an already healthy diet low in meat and fat to one that may cause deficiencies). And it is important to not make frivolous health claims about the vegan diet and possibly harming the very people who are sympathetic to animals and want to help. That just isn't right. (See the PETA autism video below, also <a href="http://www.thewire.com/politics/2014/05/the-bad-science-behind-petas-claim-that-milk-might-cause-autism/371751/" target="_blank">click here</a>.)
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~ PETA links autism to dairy – zealous rubbish.
<br><br>There are numerous other things that should be done other than advocating veganism, such as improving the conditions of factory farms for livestock. One example is the ASPCA's grant of $151,000 to a humane chicken farm in 2012, <a href="https://www.aspca.org/about-us/press-releases/aspca-provides-more-150000-promote-humane-poultry-welfare-good-shepherd" target="_blank">click here</a>. Some of the conditions at the farm that warranted praise included free-range chickens and turkeys living in clean and spacious facilities, quality feed, and the elimination of unnecessary antibiotics.
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However, vegan groups were quick to publicly attack the ASPCA's move, calling it speciesist, <a href="http://www.allamericanvegan.com/aspca-donates-to-kill-chickens/" target="_blank">click here</a>. Any public relations damage that these extremists inflict on the ASPCA and other groups like it may very well deprive them of much needed public donations, thereby delaying the relief of suffering for countless other animals trapped in inhumane farming operations.
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~ ASPCA video on factory-farm chickens (no unpleasant scenes).
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Another example of a prudent strategy to reduce animal suffering is the Humane Society of the United States' "humane eating" campaign, <a href="http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/eating/" target="_blank">click here</a>. It recommends Meatless Mondays and explores the joy of eating more vegetarian dishes. This, and buying meat products produced ethically, can go a long way in reducing animal consumption for better health. One of their best campaigns is the Rural Development and Outreach program, working with farmers and ranchers to improve conditions for livestock, <a href="http://www.humanesociety.org/about/departments/rural/rural-development-outreach.html" target="_blank">click here</a>. However, vegans attack the concept of "humane eating," <a href="http://www.peta.org/blog/peta-s-position-sustainable-meat/" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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~ Antibiotics in factory farming may be a problem.
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Basically, the vegan's theory is flawed. Even if more people became vegan, that doesn't necessarily mean less animals would be killed. What might happen is that the drop in demand for meat due to an increase in the number of vegans in society might cause the price of meat to drop, and the non-vegans would simply eat more of it at a cheaper price. So, you would end up with more people on unhealthy diets on opposite sides of the diet spectrum. Also, producers are not going to cut back on labor and capital (and the number of animals to be slaughtered) due to a drop in local demand; they will export instead. Therefore, the best policy is to encourage EVERYONE to reduce their meat consumption for better health as well as to eat more ethically.
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In India, where <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetarianism_by_country#India" target="_blank">31% of the population is vegetarian</a>, its production and export of beef are breaking new highs, along with the rest of the world. To see a chart of India's total meat production, <a href="http://www.fao.org/ag/aga/agap/frg/feedsafety/present/speedy%20india/speedy-india/img007.jpg" target="_blank">click here</a>. (Over 80% of Indians are <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/More-than-80-of-healthy-Indians-are-vitamin-D-deficient-Diabetes-Foundation-of-India/articleshow/19898114.cms" target="_blank">vitamin D deficient</a> – and India gets a lot of sunlight for being near the equator.) In the United States, 0.5% of the adult population is vegan and about 3% of the adult population is vegetarian, <a href="http://www.vegetariantimes.com/article/vegetarianism-in-america/" target="_blank">click here</a>. The chance of the U.S. vegetarian population even coming close to that of India's is remote at best, and all the vegans would accomplish even if they reached India's level is utter failure in regard to ending the slaughter of animals. Veganism is a <b>dead end</b>.
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<font size=2><b>USDA: World Beef Exports</font size=2></b>
<img src="http://www.thefarmsite.com/reports/contents/12-4-19Farmsite1.gif" width="400" height="210">
~ India's and the world's trade in beef – breaking new highs.
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The Frog Blog believes people have the right to eat whatever they want. And if people want to be vegans for ethical reasons, that's fine. But making health claims to the public about the vegan diet or feeding it to your children is another matter. We are glad that many vegans are in fact reasonable – read this article from Vegsource.com: <a href="http://www.vegsource.com/news/2013/06/dont-go-vegetarian-or-vegan-for-health-benefits.html" target="_blank">"Don't Go Vegetarian Or Vegan For Health Benefits."</a>
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But it's a damned shame that the sound work in animal welfare undertaken by many mainstream animal rights organizations is being undermined by some radical vegans. For these extremists (sometimes called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abolitionism_%28animal_rights%29" target="_blank">abolitionists</a>), it's all or nothing – and what they usually accomplish is nothing, like that laughable stunt by Kelly Atlas in the video at the top of his page. Instead, we at the Frog Blog believe that we should pragmatically reduce suffering and cruelty wherever we can. There is so much to do with causes that are urgent and <u>achievable</u> – why waste time and money on a pipe dream? The animals can't wait for some ridiculous and futile revolution to happen a thousand years from now that would fulfil the 6th Commandment for animals and deliver a world where tigers lie with lambs as in the Garden of Eden.
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<center><font size=7><b>* * *</center></font size=7></b>
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<font size=3><b><font color=red>UPDATE:</font color=red></b> A Funeral For A Frozen Chicken</font size=3> <br><br>
(November 7, 2014) Another ridiculous antic that antagonizes people and businesses rather than gaining their support for animal rights.
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<object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mKGG-B-M1bY?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mKGG-B-M1bY?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>
~ Morons. This generates ridicule, not sympathy and respect.
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<b>For related articles in the Frog Blog:</b>
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- Anti-Vaxxers And Homeopaths Are Idiots! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/02/anti-vaxxers-and-homeopaths-are-idiots.html">Click here</a>.
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- Shark Fin Sales Drop Up To 70% In China <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/09/shark-fin-sales-drop-by-70-in-china.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- Unvaccinated Kids Banned In NYC Schools <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/unvaccinated-kids-banned-in-nyc-schools.html">Click here.</a>
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- Asian Carps: Barbarians At The Gate! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/03/barbarian-fishes-at-gate.html">Click here</a>.
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- Bluefin Tuna Sold For $1.7 Million! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/bluefin-tuna-sold-for-17-million.html">Click here.</a>
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- Bluefin Tuna Sold For A Record $736,000 <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/bluefin-tuna-sold-for-record-736000.html">Click here.</a><br>Frog Blog Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086939950507122287noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625077740214410320.post-91036642474046120332014-09-11T14:05:00.001-04:002015-06-26T02:56:50.345-04:00SHARK FIN SALES DROP UP TO 70% IN CHINA<font size=3>But China Has A Ways To Go On Wildlife Conservation</font size=3>
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<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/Shark_fins.jpg" width=400 height=570>
~ U.S. gov't agent counts confiscated shark fins.
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Shark fin is a Chinese delicacy used to make shark-fin soup, a dish that dates back to the Ming dynasty (1368–1644); see acclaimed film director Ang Lee's explanation, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkxoRPv4ugE" target="_blank">click here</a>.
As Chinese incomes grew in the past decades, demand for this expensive luxury has risen dramatically. As a result, about 73 million sharks are killed each year exclusively for their fins. In the last 15 years, some shark species have declined by as much as 98%, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_threatened_sharks" target="_blank">click here</a>. This is not just about the extinction of certain species of sharks; this is about the destruction of the entire ecological balance of the oceans.
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Also, read our earlier article about another endangered fish, the majestic bluefin tuna: <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/bluefin-tuna-sold-for-17-million.html">"Bluefin Tuna Sold For $1.7 Million!"</a>
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~ What would happen if sharks disappeared?
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In August, <a href="http://www.wildaid.org/" target="_blank" >WildAid</a>, an international organization devoted to ending the illegal wildlife trade, reported that sales of shark fin in China has dropped by as much as 70%. And in the City of Guangzhou (famous worldwide for its Cantonese cuisine and China's top center of the shark fin trade), sales of shark fin has dropped by 82%. Another world center in the trade, Hong Kong, also reported of a steep drop in the shark fin business earlier this year, <a href="http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1469412/hong-kong-shark-fin-imports-fall-35pc?page=all" target="_blank">click here</a>. Also, in a recent survey conducted by WildAid, 85% of Chinese consumers in certain markets have said they have quit shark fin soup, <a href="http://shanghaiist.com/2014/08/07/85-pc-chinese-quit-shark-fin-soup.php" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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These promising developments are primarily due to the education of the Chinese public by conservation groups that have utilized Chinese celebrities such as basketball star Yao Ming and movie star Jackie Chan to spread the word, <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/10635496/Jackie-Chan-interview-They-served-me-shark-fin-soup-and-I-said-no-way.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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~ Shark fin soup is no longer fashionable.
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In addition, as a policy against extravagance, the Chinese government in 2012 banned the serving of shark fin (and other exotic-animal products) at all government functions, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/09/world/asia/china-ban-shark-fin/" target="_blank">click here</a>. However, if the situation for the shark continues to deteriorate, it's possible that the all-powerful Chinese Communist Party might just ban the consumption of shark fin for everyone altogether. Wildlife conservation groups are already lobbying the Chinese government to do just that now. But no matter how you look at it, while this drop in the sales of shark fin might be a bit of good news, there is still a lot of work to do for wildlife conservationists in this regard.
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~ China's insatiable demand for animal parts.
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On the other fronts, Chinese demand is still <i>the</i> major source of the problem for countless other endangered animals, from the elephant to the rhino to the tiger and so on. It's an issue of culture. China is an ancient society that has thousands of years of tradition in regard to arts and crafts (ivory) and traditional Chinese medicine (tiger penis, rhino horn, bear gall bladder, etc.). There is considerable doubt that these remedies in Chinese medicine have any validity at all. The breadth and scope of the problem is so great that we can hardly scratch the surface in this article. Please read our earlier article about the rhino horn and its uses in Chinese medicine: <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/06/prince-william-attacks-rhino-poachers.html">"Prince William Attacks Rhino Poachers"</a>
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And neither can the Chinese government control the illegal trafficking of animal parts in a meaningful way – regardless of how autocratic and ubiquitous it is (before 1997, some poachers have received life sentences and the death penalty; now it's up to 20 years in prison, which is still harsh but ineffective nonetheless). As with the shark fin example above, the true power to stop this problem lies in the ability to change the attitudes of the people themselves. Reducing demand is more than half the battle here; poaching will stop by itself if there is no demand.
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~ Cyber activism.
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With the Internet, we can now make cyber-friends all over the world – modern day penpals. And social networking is a powerful tool for online activism. That ONE person you are discussing or debating with in a blog or chatroom includes dozens of other people whom you are unaware of but are reading what you are writing with interest.
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In order to save wildlife or the environment, FrogBook.com invites all our readers to communicate with your international cyber-friends through rigorous debate, shameless begging, tasteful cajoling, and blunt criticism (but don't be rude or use profanity – don't get personal – be professional). Never lie or exaggerate. In the age of the Internet, people can check your claims with a click of a key. Once you lose your credibility, you'll never be able to convince that cyber-friend or anyone else of anything again.
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~ Integrity and transparency are very important to your cause.
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Also, your reputation for honesty and rigor is very important (your assertions must be supported by science). So research your facts carefully and make sure to use only reputable sources. And always attach exhibits or evidence to your argument in the form of links to shore up your position. Out of pride, your counterpart may not admit to you that he or she is convinced (and sometimes people need to sleep on it); but the truth is the truth and once you have rested your case, your job is done and you should move on to the next person. Don't forget, your true target are the OTHER READERS!!
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Read our earlier article about ethical issues and charities: <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/07/cnn-calls-spca-intl-scam.html">"CNN Calls SPCA International A Scam."</a> Also, read about how the anti-vaccination movement misrepresented the truth: <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/unvaccinated-kids-banned-in-nyc-schools.html">"Unvaccinated Kids Banned In NYC Schools."</a>
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<center><font size=7><b>* * *</center></font size=7></b>
<br /> <font size=3><b><font color=red>UPDATE:</font color=red></b> New Vegan Video Causes Controversy </font size=3> <br><br>
(October 22, 2014) Read our article about veganism and the vegetarian diet, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/new-vegan-video-causes-controversy.html">click here</a>.
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<b>For related articles in the Frog Blog:</b>
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- New Vegan Video Causes Controversy <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/new-vegan-video-causes-controversy.html">Click here</a>.
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- Asian Carps: Barbarians At The Gate! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/03/barbarian-fishes-at-gate.html">Click here</a>.
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- "Let The Panda Die Out": Wildlife Expert <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/11/let-panda-die-out-wildlife-expert.html">Click here.</a>
<br>- Escaped Python Kills Two Boys <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/08/escaped-python-kills-two-boys.html">Click here</a>.
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- Film: <i>Blackfish</i> Exposes SeaWorld Cruelty <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/08/film-blackfish-exposes-seaworld-cruelty.html">Click here.</a>
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- Bluefin Tuna Sold For $1.7 Million! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/bluefin-tuna-sold-for-17-million.html">Click here.</a>
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- Justin Bieber Attacked Over His Monkey <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/animal-group-blasts-bieber-on-monkey.html">Click here.</a>
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- Moron Lets Infant Play With A Gorilla <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/09/moron-lets-infant-play-with-gorilla.html">Click here.</a>
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- CNN Calls SPCA International A Scam <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/07/cnn-calls-spca-intl-scam.html">Click here.</a><br>
- Prince William Attacks Rhino Poachers <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/06/prince-william-attacks-rhino-poachers.html">Click here.</a><br>
- Exotic Animals To Return To Zanesville! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/exotic-animals-to-return-to-zanesville.html">Click here.</a><br>
- Bluefin Tuna Sold For A Record $736,000 <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/bluefin-tuna-sold-for-record-736000.html">Click here.</a><br>
- 50 Exotic/Rare Animals Killed In Ohio <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/56-exotic-animals-killed-in-ohio.html">Click here.</a>Frog Blog Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086939950507122287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625077740214410320.post-31653883535583529042014-08-04T18:40:00.001-04:002015-06-26T02:57:40.292-04:00WORLD'S 1ST ATHEIST TV CHANNEL LAUNCHES <font size=3>Religion Should Stay Out Of Science & Affairs-Of-State</font size=3>
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On July 29th, <i>Atheist TV</i>, the 24-hour Internet TV station devoted exclusively to atheistic issues, went online: <a href="http://atheists.org/atheisttv" target="_blank">www.Atheists.TV, click here</a>. You can also watch this channel – along with many other free channels – on your television set by using Roku, <a href="http://atheists.org/atheistTV/roku" target="_blank">click here</a>. The channel is operated by the non-profit and civil rights group, <a href="http://atheists.org" target="_blank">American Atheists</a>, founded in 1963.
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<a href="http://atheists.org/atheisttv" target="_blank"><img src="http://atheists.org/image/Roku-Front.png" width=400 height=158 border=0></a>
<center><i>Atheist TV</i> logo.</center>
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Atheism and other <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreligion" target="_blank">irreligious</a> (or non-religious) systems of thought – including agnosticism, secular-humanism, and skepticism – are on the rise around the world. Today, irreligion is most pronounced in East Asia and Europe. Countries that have the highest population of religious people tend to be mostly influenced by Islam and/or Christianity (particularly Catholicism). In the last two decades, over 25 million Americans have abandoned their religion, <a href="https://richarddawkins.net/2014/08/the-great-decline-61-years-of-religiosity-in-one-graph-2013-hits-a-new-low/" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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<img src="http://froginawell.com/irreligion.png" >
~ Irreligion around the world. Darker = more irreligious.
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Unlike Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss, who are featured in our other article, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-unbelievers-film-attacks-religion.html">"Film: <i>The Unbelievers</i> Attacks Religion!"</a> (May 1, 2013), FrogBook.com has never advocated the elimination of religion from society. Taken allegorically, some of the religious texts and their fables can be helpful to people grappling with the everyday trials and tribulations of life.
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In fact, many scholars have proposed that people in antiquity knew very well that the stories in the Bible and other religious texts were not supposed to be taken LITERALLY. Many lived under the Roman Empire, where polytheism was the norm. These people were familiar with a diverse (often contradictory) variety of gods, religions, cults, and sects and were able to cope with all the confusion and religious hybridization that arose. They had <u>commonsense</u>. But this may not necessarily be the case in regard to religion in the world today.
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~ A channel devoted to reality.....
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By definition, atheism is about the <i>absence</i> of theology. By itself, it does not propose any particular theory or doctrine. Its goal is to challenge theories (i.e. theological concepts) through facts and reason via debate and education. Atheism and other irreligious ideas are a sensible counterbalance in society when organized religion ventures out of its normally mundane roles (such as weddings, funerals, baptisms, charities, etc.) to disturb the affairs-of-state and the foundation of established knowledge (particularly the sciences) – often with idiotic ideas such as Young Earth Creationism.
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<object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9gARuj656Es?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9gARuj656Es?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>
~ Atheism is about the truth. Atheism is on the rise.
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In fact, radical Islamists and their global jihad are threatening the political and social order of the entire planet. While science and knowledge are the light, dogma and ignorance are surely the darkness. Yet, Islamic terrorist groups like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boko_Haram" target="_blank">Boko Haram</a> and <a href="http://www.ibtimes.co.in/two-women-stoned-death-adultery-syria-by-isis-604894" target="_blank"> I.S.I.S. (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria)</a>, promise to bring barbarism, superstition, and oppression to millions of people around the world, including here in North America. Their goal is world domination through the dictatorship of theocratic fascism.
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~ Barbarity in the name of religion. (This video is not graphic.)
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When one or both sides refuse to rely exclusively on logic and reason in their train of thought, there is bound to be violence. There is really no room for discussion and compromise when it's really about one magical sky-master versus another. It can be argued that religion has been the main cause of wars and genocides throughout human history, including and perhaps especially today.
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When you expect people to believe you without facts, you are trying to CONTROL them, not educate them. You are telling them to stop thinking.
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<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/95/Husit%C3%A9_-_Jensk%C3%BD_kodex.jpg" width=400 height=548> ~ The Crusaders. 200 years of meaningless slaughter.
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<font size=3><b>Is The Internet The Graveyard Of Religion?</b></font size=3>
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The natural home of reason is debate and interaction while the natural home of religion is indoctrination and isolation. The reason why atheism and other irreligious beliefs have flourished may be due to the growth of the Internet, particularly the social media such as Facebook and Twitter. Religion simply is out of its own element in the age of information and communication, where suppositions can easily be debated on by many people all over the world, and verified or refuted by facts and knowledge retrieved at a click of button.
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~ Knowledge is the enemy of religion.
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The key to getting to the truth is NOT to obey and accept, but to question and argue. This is what atheism and <i>Atheist TV</i> offer, and they reflect how all scientific knowledge has been organized by human beings throughout the centuries – in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socratic_method" target="_blank">Socratic</a> tradition.
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What is the meaning of your life? Is it represented by some made-up nonsense to satisfy your wishful thinking and false sense of security? Or does <i>real</i> meaning lie in bravely knowing the <font size=4><b>TRUTH</b></font face=4> about yourself and your universe?
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<center><font size=7><b>* * *</center></font size=7></b>
<br /><font size=3><b><font color=red>UPDATE:</font color=red></b> Is Atheist Bill Maher A Bigot? </font size=3> <br><br>
(January 20, 2015) Read our article on atheist and comedian Bill Maher’s controversial comments about Muslims, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/01/is-bill-maher-atheist-bigot.html">click here</a>.
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<font size=3><b><font color=red>UPDATE:</font color=red></b> Creation Theme Park Sues For Tax Credit </font size=3> <br><br>
(March 16, 2015) Read our article on the latest shenanigans of Creationist Ken Ham and his Noah's Ark park, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/creation-theme-park-sues-for-tax-credit.html">click here</a>.
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<b>For related articles in the Frog Blog:</b>
<br />- Creation Theme Park Sues For Tax Credit <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/creation-theme-park-sues-for-tax-credit.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- Is Atheist Bill Maher A Bigot? <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/01/is-bill-maher-atheist-bigot.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- Unvaccinated Kids Banned In NYC Schools <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/unvaccinated-kids-banned-in-nyc-schools.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- Bill Nye Debates Creationist Ken Ham <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/02/bill-nye-debates-creationist-ken-ham.html"> Click here.</a>
<br />- "Cyrus Prostituted Herself": Creationist <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/creationist-cyrus-prostituted-herself.html">Click here.</a>
<br>- Film: <i>The Unbelievers</i> Attacks Religion! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-unbelievers-film-attacks-religion.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- Teaching Creationism Is Child Abuse <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/teaching-creationism-is-child-abuse.html">Click here.</a>
<br>- GOP Rep. Calls Evolution & Big Bang Lies <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/gop-rep-calls-evolution-big-bang-lies.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- The 2nd "Scopes Monkey Trial" Is Coming! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/2nd-scopes-monkey-trial-is-coming.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- Tax-Break For Kentucky Creationist Park <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/kentucky-tax-break-for-creationist-park.html ">Click here.</a>
<br />- Bachmann Wants Creationism In Schools <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/bachmann-wants-creationism-in-schools.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- "Evolution A Myth": Christine O’Donnell <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/christine-odonnell-evolution-myth.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- Creation Vs. Evolution: Darwin Defamed! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/creation-vs-evolution.html">Click here.</a>Frog Blog Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086939950507122287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625077740214410320.post-77889670509756114952014-07-07T19:15:00.000-04:002015-11-16T18:37:42.464-05:00UNVACCINATED KIDS BANNED IN NYC SCHOOLS <font size=3>"Vaccine Truthers" Are Ignorant Morons</font size=3>
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Last month, federal judge William Kuntz of Brooklyn, New York, ruled that families who refuse to vaccinate their children do not have the constitutional right to force their kids on the school population. Religious reasons are no excuse – even when religious exemptions from vaccination have been granted to the students in question. The anti-vaccination families have indicated that they will appeal the judge's ruling. For more information on this story, <a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2014/06/25/new_york_federal_judge_rules_that_schools_can_suspend_unvaccinated_kids.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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~ Federal court rules against anti-vaxxers.
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Besides citing religious reasons, anti-vaxxers also claim that vaccination has many side effects and may cause autism. All nonsense; even the <a href="http://www.autismsciencefoundation.org/autismandvaccines.html" target="_blank">Autism Science Foundation</a> disagrees. Also, read a recent article: <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/07/02/another-blow-to-anti-vaxxers-fortress-of-pseudoscience.html" target="_blank">"Another Blow to Anti-Vaxxers’ Fortress of Pseudoscience."</a> However, this silly movement is getting support from the political Right (people who want less government) as well as the political Left (people who don't trust "Big Pharma," <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/danthropology/2014/08/neil-degrasse-tyson-on-liberal-science-denial-and-gmos/" target="_blank">click here</a>). This is an issue that should not be politicized. This is a matter of medicine and science.
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~ Fox News commentator supports the anti-vaxxers.
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In fact, because of people's refusal to get vaccinated, the mumps, measles, rubella, flu, polio, whooping cough, and other preventable diseases are on the rise in the United States and around the world, <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2014/1/21/5329478/vaccine-preventable-disease-outbreaks-show-anti-vaccine-movement-influence" target="_blank">click here</a>. The people who don't want to vaccinate themselves and their children argue that if other children are vaccinated, what harm is there if <i>their</I> children are not vaccinated?
<br><br><center><b><font size=1><font color=red>Updated chart (Jan. 13, 2015):</font color=red>
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/SjUNQ7e.png" Width=400 height=240 border=1></b> </center></font size=1>
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First, you have a responsibility to protect your children regardless of your religious beliefs. As in a recent court ruling has shown, people who knowingly let harm come to their children for whatever reason will be prosecuted and punished; read our story from last year, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.ca/2013/02/teaching-creationism-is-child-abuse.html#faith">"Fanatics Denied Medicine To Kids; 2 Died."</a>
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Furthermore, unvaccinated locals who travel and foreign tourists may bring diseases into your community to infect others who have not been vaccinated. They include babies (under 12 months), <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/downloads/f_preg.pdf" target="_blank">pregnant women</a> (for certain live vaccines), and people with <a href="http://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/vaccination/immune-contra.asp" target="_blank">immunity issues</a> as well as those – especially children – undergoing treatment such as chemotherapy (see video immediately below).
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<b><font color=red>Updated video (Jan. 29, 2015):</font color=red></b> We must protect the weak.
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Vaccination does not work for 100% of the people. For diseases like measles and whooping cough, some children who have been vaccinated still contract the disease for some reason; one dose of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is about 93% effective in preventing measles. And for other people who have been vaccinated successfully, the protective effects of the vaccine may wear off over time, <a href="https://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/dailybrew/adults-vaccinated-against-measles-kids-getting-sick-suggesting-220134938.html" target="_blank">click here</a>. So, it is vitally important that EVERYONE in society get vaccinated regularly, <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/rec-vac/index.html?s_cid=cs_650" target="_blank">click here</a>. The need to vaccinate all of society is explained by a theory called "herd immunity."
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<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/Community_Immunity.jpg/440px-Community_Immunity.jpg" width=400 height=545>
~ Herd immunity.
<br><br>In herd immunity, the more people there are in society who have been vaccinated, the less chance the unvaccinated people will become sick. So, those people who fall through the cracks in society, like homeless people, the mentally challenged, and people living below the poverty line, should be protected by others – like capable adults and school children – who have the knowledge and ready access to immunization.
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The math is simple; the longer the disease is kept alive in our bodies, the more virulent it can become and the harder it will be for society to fight it. The more people there are who have been vaccinated, the less time the disease will have to cultivate itself and spread.
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~ The backlash against science has great consequences.
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There are two issues that the religious Right, and to some extent the Tea Party, don't understand; and we also mustn't forget the hardheaded position of some people on the Left, such as the New Agers and alternative-medicine types (like homeopaths).
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First, scientific facts cannot be bent to fit a political agenda or a personal belief. How are the vaccine truthers any different than the Young Earth Creationists or Climate Change deniers? Their reasoning is based on pseudoscience at best and on utter rubbish at worst.
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<b><font color=red>Updated video (Feb. 4, 2015):</font color=red></b> Glenn Beck doubles down.
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Second, anti-vaxxers and religious fanatics seem to think that their liberty can override the welfare and rights of others. By citing religious reasons or personal belief as an excuse, they claim that they have the right to not pull their weight in society by not vaccinating themselves (<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/vaccinations-kids-school-anti-vaxxers-2015-2#ooid=k4OGtvcjq8opexFd2b9tXycCZXevrQqn" target="_blank">click here</a>), by denying others healthcare (<a href="http://www.salon.com/2014/06/30/breaking_supreme_court_rules_that_hobby_lobby_can_deny_contraception_coverage/" target="_blank">click here</a>), and by discriminating against certain groups, such as gays and lesbians (<a href="http://lgbtfeed.com/post/antigay_discrimination_again_a_must_read_mississippi_law_legalising_antigay_discrimination_now_in_effect" target="_blank">click here</a>). In society, communicable diseases are a common threat that require concerted action by everyone. Your rights end where our noses (and lungs) begin.
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<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/Wickiana5.jpg/636px-Wickiana5.jpg" width=400 height=400>
~ As ignorant as before; they used to blame the plague on witches.
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[<font color=red>Updated Insert – February 2, 2015:</font color = red> Read our latest article, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/02/anti-vaxxers-and-homeopaths-are-idiots.html"> "Anti-Vaxxers And Homeopaths Are Idiots!" click here</a>.]</b>
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<center><font size=7><b>* * *</center></font size=7></b>
<br /> <font size=3><b><font color=red>UPDATE:</font color=red></b> New Vegan Video Causes Controversy </font size=3> <br><br>
(October 22, 2014) Read our article about veganism and the vegetarian diet, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/new-vegan-video-causes-controversy.html">click here</a>.
<br /><br><font size=3><b><font color=red>UPDATE:</font color=red></b> Anti-Vaxxers Say Autistic Muppet Is A Plot </font size=3> <br><br>
(October 27, 2015) Read about the crazy anti-vaxxers and why they think Julia the autistic Muppet normalizes "vaccination injuries," <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/10/anti-vaxxers-say-autistic-muppet-is-plot.html">click here</a>?
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<b>For related articles in the Frog Blog:</b>
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- Anti-Vaxxers Say Autistic Muppet Is A Plot <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/10/anti-vaxxers-say-autistic-muppet-is-plot.html">Click here.</a>
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- Donald Trump Says Vaccines Cause Autism <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/09/donald-trump-says-vaccines-cause-autism_23.html">Click here</a>.
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- Anti-Vaxxers And Homeopaths Are Idiots! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/02/anti-vaxxers-and-homeopaths-are-idiots.html">Click here</a>.
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- New Vegan Video Causes Controversy <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/new-vegan-video-causes-controversy.html">Click here</a>.
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- World's 1st Atheist TV Channel Launches <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/08/worlds-1st-atheist-tv-channel-launches.html"> Click here.</a>
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- Bill Nye Debates Creationist Ken Ham <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/02/bill-nye-debates-creationist-ken-ham.html"> Click here.</a>
<br />- Far East Tops O.E.C.D. Education Rankings <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/12/far-east-tops-oecd-education-rankings.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- "Cyrus Prostituted Herself": Creationist <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/creationist-cyrus-prostituted-herself.html">Click here.</a>
<br>- Film: <i>The Unbelievers</i> Attacks Religion! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-unbelievers-film-attacks-religion.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- Teaching Creationism Is Child Abuse <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/teaching-creationism-is-child-abuse.html">Click here.</a>
<br>- GOP Rep. Calls Evolution & Big Bang Lies <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/gop-rep-calls-evolution-big-bang-lies.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- The 2nd "Scopes Monkey Trial" Is Coming! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/2nd-scopes-monkey-trial-is-coming.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- Tax-Break For Kentucky Creationist Park <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/kentucky-tax-break-for-creationist-park.html ">Click here.</a>
<br />- Bachmann Wants Creationism In Schools <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/bachmann-wants-creationism-in-schools.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- Doomsday Prophets Are Idiots! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/doomsday-prophets-are-idiots.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- "Evolution A Myth": Christine O’Donnell <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/christine-odonnell-evolution-myth.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- Creation Vs. Evolution: Darwin Defamed! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/creation-vs-evolution.html">Click here.</a>Frog Blog Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086939950507122287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625077740214410320.post-65502221791638659172014-06-04T16:09:00.002-04:002015-09-27T16:52:32.011-04:00U.S. TO CUT CO2 EMISSIONS BY 1/3 IN 15 YRS.<font size=3>China Produces 1/2 The World's Coal And 1/4 of CO2</font size=3>
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On Monday, June 2nd, President Obama announced the most sweeping climate plan of his presidency. The Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.) was first created by Republican President Richard Nixon in 1970. And for its latest and most ambitious undertaking, it will bypass a gridlocked Congress to mandate unprecedented restrictions on coal production in the United States; it will also seek to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 30% by 2030. To put simply, many of those coal-fired power plants will have to be shut down to meet these standards. For more information on the E.P.A.'s plan, <a href="http://www2.epa.gov/carbon-pollution-standards/clean-power-plan-proposed-rule" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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~ President Obama's historic Climate-Change plan.
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While some environmentalists are encouraged by the president's actions, they are still concerned about his support for hydraulic fracking (used mostly to produce cleaner natural gas) that has made the U.S. into a global energy superpower. And they are still worried about his indecision on the Keystone XL pipeline; read our latest article on this topic: <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.ca/2014/04/obama-likely-to-approve-keystone-xl.html">"Obama Likely To Approve Keystone XL," click here</a>. Many also argue that a reduction in emissions does not stop the U.S. from exporting fossil fuels to other countries like China. And more extreme environmentalists are saying Obama is not doing enough; they want the U.S. to move aggressively and massively toward renewable energy.
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~ Obama cracks down on coal. Environmentalists are cautious.
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From the Right, the president's critics are saying that his new plan will be harmful to the economy, cutting tens of thousands of jobs in the fossil-fuel and power industries. As of 2012, there are approximately 570 coal-fired plants in the U.S. that generate about 44% of its electricity and account for about 39% of the nation's CO2 emissions. Conservatives also argue that no matter what the U.S. does to its own economic detriment, other countries like China and India will simply continue to burn coal to gain an economic advantage over the United States.
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<center><font size=1>Source: Wikipedia.org</font size=1></center>
<img src="http://froginawell.com/coal.png" width=400 height=318>
~ 2013 figures.
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While FrogBook.com supports President Obama's plan, let us just digress for a moment to look at what China is doing to this planet in regard to pollution and carbon emissions. As of 2013, China produces just under half of the world's coal, and about four times that of the United States. Chinese coal generates about 79% of that nation's electricity. As of 2012, China has about 620 coal-fired plants. And it intends build to another 160 by 2016 – that's about one per week. Based on 2010 estimates, China accounts for over 26% of the world's carbon emissions. And this figure is expected to go even higher.
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<center><font size=1>Source: Wikipedia.org</font size=1></center>
<img src="http://froginawell.com/co2.png" width=400 height=213>
~ 2010 figures.
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The problem with China and other developing countries is that coal is a cheap source of power, and it's plentiful in China. In fact, coal is not only used by its power plants, but also by millions of households in rural areas for cooking and heating. Cakes made of coal dust are often kept in boxes outside of the dwelling, not unlike how logs were kept at a cabin back in the day.
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<object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/daTkfvucANM?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/daTkfvucANM?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>~ Coal cakes or briquettes used for heating and cooking in China.
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China's smog not only has real – though gradual – effects on the global climate over the long run, it has an immediate and severe impact on the air quality of entire nations just outside of China, such as Korea and Japan. These are difficult-to-measure health and economic costs imposed by China on its neighbors; these costs are called "externalities," <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Externality" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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So, are the U.S. conservatives such as the Tea Partiers and Libertarians right in their assessment of President Obama's climate plan as being futile?
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<object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MKlvmGT12do?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MKlvmGT12do?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>~ China's smog engulfs another nation.
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The president's curbs on carbon emissions are sound. America's resolve to reduce emissions will give it the credibility and leadership status it needs to encourage other nations to reduce <i>their</i> emissions. Any reduction in CO2 by the U.S. is just that much less for our atmosphere to contend with, buying the planet a little bit more time. And China's actions are not totally out of the control of the rest of the world, especially the United States and the European Union. This is because in the age of Globalization, all our economies are intricately linked.
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<font size=4>China's Trading Partners</font size=4>
<img src="http://froginawell.com/trade.png" width=400 height=226>
~ U.S. and E.U. are China's largest trading partners.
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The U.S. and the E.U. are China's largest buyers of manufactured products, goods that take carbon emissions to make. And they can exert pressure on China in regard to carbon emissions. But weren't the U.S. and E.U. themselves manufacturing powerhouses in their own right just decades ago? So, what happened to them?
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What really happened here over the past decades was that as the modern economies began to clean up their own environment through regulations, their industries moved their operations to developing countries for the cheap labor, lax regulations, and lower taxes. Then they would burn up more fossil fuel by shipping the finished goods back to their own countries for consumption.
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<a href="http://i.imgur.com/XWroDJj.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/XWroDJj.png" border="0" width=400 height=192></a>
~ Source: World Bank. <font size=1>(Click on image to enlarge.)</font size=1>
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One could argue that Chinese people also consume manufactured goods, not just the Americans and Europeans – true, but by a far less extent. The GDP per capita in the U.S is almost eight times that of China's. Per capita, the U.S. has over seven and a half times more automobiles than China. The U.S. uses three and a half times more energy per capita than China. And emissions per capita in the U.S. is over three times that of China's, even though the Chinese do most of the manufacturing work, breathing in all that pollution in the process. In essence, the West imports finished goods from the developing world and exports the filth to nations like China and its neighbors. The Western manufacturers make most of the profits while the local workers make a living wage.
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<object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/h1_XAuJ8qCc?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/h1_XAuJ8qCc?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>~ The truth behind one of the world's most profitable companies.
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FrogBook.com would like our readers to think of their own responsibilities to the climate every time they buy that cheap item that was shipped across the ocean to their local dollar-store. We invite our readers to consider living more modestly and to buy more from local farmers and manufactures that have to operate under better labor and environmental regulations. This and President Obama's climate plan will have real effects not only on the U.S., but also on China and other countries around the world in the reduction of global carbon emissions.
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<img src="http://i.imgur.com/2nRQKgx.jpg" width=400 height=260>
~ New York City three decades ago. This smog is now in China.
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<object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uYXyYFzP4Lc?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uYXyYFzP4Lc?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>
<font color=red><b>Updated (Aug. 2, 2015):</b> </font color=red> Obama's America's Clean Power Plan.
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<center><font size=7><b>* * *</center></font size=7></b>
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<font size=3><b><font color=red><a name="fcc">UPDATE:</a></font color=red></b> China Follows U.S. With A Cap On Carbon</font size=3>
<br><br>(June 5, 2014) Experts believe that China's announcement on it's own caps on CO2 emissions just one day after the White House's announcement is no coincidence. President Obama's climate plan and Beijing's response to it may be a signal to other countries around the world that NOW is the time to act on Climate Change.
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<object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Jk69ms3YTG4?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Jk69ms3YTG4?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>
~ China follows the U.S. in capping carbon emissions.
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<font size=3><b><font color=red>UPDATE:</font color=red></b> Oil Crash Could End Fracking & Oil Sands </font size=3>
<br><br>(December 19, 2014) Read our article on how the drop in oil prices can destroy shale and tar sands oil, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/12/oil-crash-could-end-fracking-oilsands.html" >click here</a>.
<br /><br> <font size=3><b><font color=red>UPDATE:</font color=red></b> Mini Ice Age Coming In 2030: Scientists </font size=3> <br><br>
(July 19, 2015) Read our article on how solar activity changes the Earth's climate, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/07/mini-ice-age-coming-in-2030-scientists.html">click here</a>.
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<font size=3><b><font color=red>UPDATE:</font color=red></b> Nuclear Power Is Best For Climate Change </font size=3>
<br><br>(August 20, 2015) Read our article on why nuclear power is the only realistic way to cut out all carbon, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/08/nuclear-power-is-best-for-climate-change.html" >click here</a>.
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<b>For related articles in the Frog Blog:</b>
<br />- Nuclear Power Is Best For Climate Change <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/08/nuclear-power-is-best-for-climate-change.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- Mini Ice Age Coming In 2030: Scientists <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/07/mini-ice-age-coming-in-2030-scientists.html">Click here.</a>
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- Oil Crash Could End Fracking & Oil Sands <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/12/oil-crash-could-end-fracking-oilsands.html">Click here.</a>
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- Obama Likely To Approve Keystone XL <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/04/obama-likely-to-approve-keystone-xl.html">Click here.</a>
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- U.N. Climate Report Spells Disaster <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.ca/2013/10/un-climate-report-spells-disaster.html">Click here.</a>
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- Arctic Ice Grew By 30% – Global Cooling? <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/arctic-ice-grew-by-30-global-cooling.html">Click here.</a>
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- Keystone Pipeline Would Be A Disaster <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/03/keystone-pipeline-would-be-disaster.html">Click here.</a>
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- Arctic Ice Melts To Lowest Level Ever <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/08/artic-ice-melts-to-lowest-level-ever.html">Click here.</a>
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- Rick Perry Calls Global Warming A Hoax <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/rick-perry-says-global-warming-hoax.html">Click here.</a>
<br>- Climate-Change Deniers Gain In Congress <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/climate-change-deniers-make-gains-in.html">Click here.</a>
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- Palin Blames "Greenies" For BP Oil Spill <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/palin-blames-greenies-for-oil-spill.html">Click here.</a>Frog Blog Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086939950507122287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625077740214410320.post-63506911481869317692014-05-05T18:12:00.000-04:002015-06-26T02:58:21.766-04:00DEATH OF A TRULY FREE INTERNET IS COMING<font size=3>End Of Net Neutrality Spells The Rise Of Monopolies</font size=3>
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<object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wtt2aSV8wdw?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wtt2aSV8wdw?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>
~ Death of Net neutrality...
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On April 23, 2014, the Federal Communications Commission (F.C.C.) announced that it was proposing new rules which would allow broadband Internet service providers (I.S.P.s) the right to discriminate, thus ending Net neutrality.
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So, what is Internet neutrality? Simply, I.S.P.s under Net neutrality like Comcast and AT&T are mandated by the F.C.C. to transmit all data on the Internet in the same fashion. In other words, it is against the law to discriminate against certain websites for offering a certain type of content or message, for using a certain platform or application, and for originating from a certain part of the world. Discrimination can come in the form of allowing you to access certain websites, and to download certain content, at different speeds.
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<object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3YRI5qk6KZY?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3YRI5qk6KZY?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>
~ Just what the hell is Pres. Obama good for?
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But discrimination can also come in the form of blocking or hampering of certain websites all together. Case in point: without stringent Net neutrality laws, this was exactly what happened in Canada. In 2005, Canadian telecommunications giant, Telus, blocked its subscribers from accessing "Voices for Change," a website belonging to the
Telecommunications Workers Union (T.W.U.). At the time, the Telus workers were on strike.
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Now, it is not clear if the F.C.C. has gone that far. So far, its proposal simply allows I.S.P.s to create "express lanes" for whomever is willing to pay. Companies like Netflix and Disney would be able to offer faster connection speeds over everybody else. For example, start-ups of social-networking sites as well as movie and game-downloading sites would find it almost impossible to compete with the majors like Facebook and Netflix. Ordinary sites might find the service that they provide to their visitors eroded due to a traffic-management technique called throttling. It could be used by the I.S.P.s to benefit the majors that pay them a special fee. Learn more about throttling: <a href="http://www.besttechie.com/2014/05/06/five-internet-service-providers-accused-of-throttling-speeds-to-get-more-cash/" target="_blank">"Five Internet Service Providers Accused of Throttling Speeds to Get More Cash."</a>
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<object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rBCKRM2Y764?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rBCKRM2Y764?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>
~ The World Wide Web is a global public trust.
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But you might say, "What's wrong with that? It's the free market!" Well, the World Wide Web is a global public trust, and Internet data are not unlike television and radio broadcast signals that are transmitted over the PUBLIC airwaves. The Internet was built by a global college of governmental and academic research institutions and the cables were laid on public lands. And it is to the benefit of society – the PEOPLE – that this vitally important social tool of information is not hijacked by a group of self-serving corporations bent on not only destroying fair commercial competition, but also the unfettered dissemination of human knowledge itself.
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<center>
<img src="http://froginawell.com/net.png" width=287 height=367></center>
<br><b><font size=3><u>STOP</u> the killing of NET NEUTRALITY! <a href="http://act.rootsaction.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=9726&track=DP20140424&tag=DP20140424" target="_blank">Sign the petition!</a></b></font size=3>
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<center><font size=7><b>* * *</center></font size=7></b>
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<font size=3><b><font color=red><a name="fcc">UPDATE:</a></font color=red></b> F.C.C. Passes First Vote On Net Neutrality</font size=3> <br><br>
<object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HkN9_8LBT0A?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HkN9_8LBT0A?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>
~ It's not to late to stop it!
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(May 15, 2014) Today, the Federal Communications Commission (F.C.C.) approved a new proposal that will kill net neutrality (see main article above, dated May 5th). However, the vote is just to start the wheels in motion and is not final. There is now a 120-day consultation period, so please contact your representative and submit your thoughts to the F.C.C.: <A href="http://www.fcc.gov/comments" target="_blank">www.fcc.gov/comments</a>
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<object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DMztMIazG_A?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DMztMIazG_A?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>
~ Protesters being muzzled, like the Internet will be.
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<font size=3><b><font color=red><a name="fcc">UPDATE:</a></font color=red></b> President Obama Supports Net Neutrality</font size=3> <br><br>
<object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uKcjQPVwfDk?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uKcjQPVwfDk?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>
~ November 10, 2014.
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<font size=3><b><font color=red><a name="fcc">UPDATE:</a></font color=red></b> Victory For Net Neutrality!</font size=3> <br><br>
<object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-ErsLyxYm4o?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-ErsLyxYm4o?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>
~ Feb. 26, 2014. "Neutrality Wins Big & Why You Should Celebrate"
Frog Blog Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086939950507122287noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625077740214410320.post-87313032867544877632014-04-14T01:18:00.003-04:002015-11-07T04:11:10.273-05:00OBAMA LIKELY TO APPROVE KEYSTONE XL<font size=3>U.S. Soon To Be #1 Fossil-Fuel Producer In The World</font size=3>
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<img src="http://www.froginawell.com/obama.png">
~ Will Pres. Obama do the right thing?.........NOT!!!
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In the Frog Blog's last article about Keystone XL, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/03/keystone-pipeline-would-be-disaster.html">"Keystone Pipeline Would Be A Disaster,"</a> we predicted that President Obama would approve the Keystone XL pipeline. But because the economy performed better than expected, that prediction has yet to materialize.
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But last week, the president received a letter from a number of Senate Democrats that urged him to approve the Keystone XL pipeline. Facing pressure from the trade unions and upcoming midterm elections, these Democrats want Mr. Obama to make up his mind by May 31, 2014. And with the tacit approval of Keystone by the State Department – as shown by its final report in January, Mr. Obama's hand is surely being guided if not forced on the matter, <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/01/31/3231991/keystone-national/" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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<object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/37n_DCJRcDw?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/37n_DCJRcDw?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>
~ Democrats pressure Pres. Obama to approve Keystone pipeline.
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On top of all that, the president also has to contend with the strong public support for the project; in the latest poll, 61% of the American people favor building the Keystone XL, <a href="http://www.people-press.org/2014/03/19/keystone-xl-pipeline-divides-democrats/" target="_blank">click here</a>. Nevertheless, environmentalists are just as determined to get Obama's attention.
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However, environmentalists may have already lost half the battle. In March of 2012, President Obama approved the speedy completion of the southern half of the Keystone pipeline and it became operational early this year. It has the capability to transport 700,000 barrels of oil per day from the oilfields in the U.S. Midwest to the refineries on the Gulf coast – for eventual export to countries like China!
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<object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XsNjNCbbNWQ?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XsNjNCbbNWQ?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>
~ Environmentalists are furious with Obama.
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While Barrack Obama pays lip service to the environmentalists, it is increasingly clear that he places the energy needs of the United States above the viability of the environment and climate. In fact, under his watch, the U.S. has grown into a global fossil-fuel superpower; and according to the International Energy Agency, America is poised to become the world's largest oil and gas producer by 2015, <a href="http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/11/12/uk-iea-outlook-idUKBRE9AB0N920131112" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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All this production, however, will not benefit the consumers as the increase in supply will be readily absorbed by the global energy markets. The true beneficiaries here are the Canadian and U.S. oil, natural gas, and pipeline companies.
The big loser here is the ecology. And if Mr. Obama approves the northern leg of the Keystone pipeline, the environmental, wildlife, and health costs would be compounded because the heavy crude from the Canadian tar sands is extremely corrosive and toxic. For more information on "dirty oil," <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/03/keystone-pipeline-would-be-disaster.html"> click here</a>.
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<a name="oilprice"><object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xIOUoqupPZo?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xIOUoqupPZo?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object></a>
<b><font color=red>Updated (June 11, 2014):</font color=red></b> U.S. is now <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-07-04/u-s-seen-as-biggest-oil-producer-after-overtaking-saudi.html" target="_blank">world #1 oil producer</a>.
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So, how will the United States become the planet's largest producer of fossil fuel in just a year or so? The answer lies with the revolutionary mining technique called fracking. Simply, tons of transported water mixed with toxic chemicals would be injected into shale rock deep within the Earth; the shale would be literally fractured by extreme hydraulic pressure to release the natural gas and oil.
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<object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9fFUjLy90hY?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9fFUjLy90hY?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>
~ Fracking may be causing earthquakes.
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This technique is controversial for a number of reasons, one being the high environmental cost of transporting tons of water to the mining site every day, and another being the possible contamination of groundwater by poisonous chemicals used in the process. Also, when the natural gas and oil are being released by hydraulic fracking, natural methane (a greenhouse gas) tends to escape into the atmosphere, <a href="http://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/New-Study-Finds-Higher-Methane-Emissions-from-Fracking.html" target="_blank"> click here</a>. In addition, fracking causes earthquakes. For example, in the State of Oklahoma, incidences involving tremors since fracking began have increased by 4,200% compared to the annual average before 2008.
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Yet, it seems that this ostensibly green president fully supports fracking; perhaps the "green" here represents $$$, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/01/29/obama-says-fracking-offers-a-bridge-to-a-clean-energy-future-its-not-that-simple/" target="_blank"> click here</a>.
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<b>[<font color=red>Updated Insert – November 6, 2015:</font color = red> President Obama has denied a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline project (see video below. This should not be a big surprise as he vetoed a bill from Congress in February (read the article from Reuters: <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/24/us-usa-keystone-idUSKBN0LS2FH20150224" target="_blank">"Obama Vetoes Keystone XL Pipeline, Leaving It In Limbo"</a>). We at the Frog Blog are glad to be wrong about President Obama. However, besides Obama's concern for the environment, the two other unexpected factors that might have influenced his decision are: 1) the surprising increase in local shale oil and gas production, making Canadian oil less desirable, and 2) the sudden drop in the world price of oil (around $50 per barrel) makes tar sands oil (produced at around $75 per barrel) untenable. Also, read our recent article, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/12/oil-crash-could-end-fracking-oilsands.html">"Oil Crash Could End Fracking & Oil Sands," click here.</a>] </b> <br><br>
<iframe width="400" height="315" src="http://player.theplatform.com/p/2E2eJC/nbcNewsOffsite?guid=f_dc_obama_keystone_151106" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe>
~ The Keystone XL is dead – for now.
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<center><font size=7><b>* * *</center></font size=7></b>
<br /><font size=3><b><font color=red>UPDATE:</font color=red></b> Gov't Report: Climate Change Has Arrived
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(May 6, 2014) Read our latest update about the Obama Administration's Third National Climate Assessment. Climate Change is here, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.ca/2013/10/un-climate-report-spells-disaster.html#global">click here</a>.
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<font size=3><b><font color=red>UPDATE:</font color=red></b> Antarctic Glaciers Irreversibly Melting Away </font size=3> <br><br>
(May 13, 2014) Read our latest update on how the melting of Antarctica may raise sea levels by 13 feet! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.ca/2013/09/arctic-ice-grew-by-30-global-cooling.html#south" target="_blank">Click here</a>.
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<font size=3><b><font color=red>UPDATE:</font color=red></b> U.S. To Cut CO2 Emissions By 1/3 In 15 Yrs. </font size=3>
<br><br>(June 4, 2014) Read our latest article on how the Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.) will crack down on coal in the U.S. Also, learn about what the People's Republic of China is doing to the world’s environment! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/us-to-cut-co2-emissions-by-13-in-15-yrs.html" >Click here</a>.
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<font size=3><b><font color=red>UPDATE:</font color=red></b> Nuclear Power Is Best For Climate Change </font size=3>
<br><br>(August 20, 2015) Read our article on why nuclear power is the only realistic way to cut out all carbon, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/08/nuclear-power-is-best-for-climate-change.html" >click here</a>.
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<b>For related articles in the Frog Blog:</b>
<br />- Nuclear Power Is Best For Climate Change <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/08/nuclear-power-is-best-for-climate-change.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- Mini Ice Age Coming In 2030: Scientists <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/07/mini-ice-age-coming-in-2030-scientists.html">Click here.</a>
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- Oil Crash Could End Fracking & Oil Sands <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/12/oil-crash-could-end-fracking-oilsands.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- U.S. To Cut CO2 Emissions By 1/3 In 15 Yrs. <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/us-to-cut-co2-emissions-by-13-in-15-yrs.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- U.N. Climate Report Spells Disaster <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/10/un-climate-report-spells-disaster.html">Click here.</a>
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- Arctic Ice Grew By 30% – Global Cooling? <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/arctic-ice-grew-by-30-global-cooling.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- Keystone Pipeline Would Be A Disaster <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/03/keystone-pipeline-would-be-disaster.html">Click here.</a>
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- Arctic Ice Melts To Lowest Level Ever <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/08/artic-ice-melts-to-lowest-level-ever.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- Rick Perry Calls Global Warming A Hoax <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/rick-perry-says-global-warming-hoax.html">Click here.</a>
<br>- Climate-Change Deniers Gain In Congress <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/climate-change-deniers-make-gains-in.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- Palin Blames "Greenies" For BP Oil Spill <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/palin-blames-greenies-for-oil-spill.html">Click here.</a>Frog Blog Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086939950507122287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625077740214410320.post-7179305017293584022014-03-14T15:06:00.001-04:002015-11-03T17:34:26.611-05:00ASIAN CARPS: BARBARIANS AT THE GATE!<font size=3>Has The Asian Carp Broken Into The Great Lakes?</font size=3>
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~ The flying Asian carp disaster.
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On March 4th, the <i>Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences</i> published a paper which claims that 45 grass carps, a species of Asian carp, were caught in the Great Lakes Basin between 2007 and 2012, <a href="http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/cjfas-2013-0537#.UyNKofldVtx" target="_blank">click here</a>. And another report that came out last year claims that grass carps were successfully spawning in the Great Lakes, <a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/03/10/grass_carp_spawned_in_great_lakes_and_could_spread_study_warns.html" target="_blank">click here</a>. This is very bad news as the Asian carp is a very prolific and robust fish that can severely damage the ecosystems of the Great Lakes; they do this by wiping out the vegetation and habitats, thereby displacing indigenous fish species. In certain areas, they can outnumber local fish species by 10 to 1.
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In the Mississippi River, Illinois River, and elsewhere, other species of Asian carp, most notably the silver carp, have proven to be pugnacious and voracious invaders that can eat 20% to 40% of their own body weight each day and can quickly grow to 100 lbs! What's worse, the silver carps are sensitive to the noises of boat engines and can jump right out of the water, possibly by the hundreds – sometimes hitting people and damaging property!
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~ Canada's Global News: Asian carp coming in by trucks!
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These fishes were first imported from China into the Mississippi Delta in 1963. They were used to control algae and weeds in fish farms. As with most imported alien species, they eventually found their way into the native habitats to do serious damage. Because they are so prolific (females can lay over two million eggs each year), the infested areas have now become a lost cause.
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Top priority now should be given to strategies that would stop the spread of the Asian carp into unaffected waters. The United States government has already spent over $200 million on this problem, including $30 million on electric barriers to prevent Asian carps from entering the Great Lakes from the Illinois River. However, this strategy might hinder the migration of indigenous species of marine life and disrupt their reproductive cycles.
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<img src="http://i.imgur.com/ivy74c6.jpg" width="400" height="326" >
~ The grass carp can grow to 4.6 ft. and weigh as much as 88 lbs.
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And as the latest report has shown, the grass carp might have broken through and entered the Great Lakes anyway. Although the silver and bighead carps are the most notorious Asian carp species, the grass carp is also feared for its awesome potential to totally annihilate lake weeds and grasses, which native species feed on. Just as fast-growing, voracious, and prolific as its infamous cousins, the grass carp can eat up to THREE times its own body weight daily! Their threat to local habitats in the Great Lakes Basin is very real and potentially catastrophic.
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~ Kentucky fried carp?
<br><br>In the mean time, the fishing of Asian carps in already infested waters seems to be the only other solution. They are a natural protein source that can be readily converted into animal feed or fertilizer. But perhaps the most lucrative method is to sell them to humans as food, particularly to the Chinese communities of North America as well as to the consumers of China, where they have been historically eaten at the dinner table. However, the transport of live specimens to uninfested areas in North America for local consumption (particularly by the Chinese community that values freshness) poses a problem for possible contamination. The authorities MUST not be lax in the enforcement of the regulations.
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<img src="http://i.imgur.com/u33FPDG.jpg" width=400 height=309>~ The Great Lakes Basin.
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<center><font size=7><b>* * *</center></font size=7></b>
<br /><font size=3><b><font color=red>UPDATE:</font color=red></b> Shark Fin Sales Drop Up To 70% In China</font size=3> <br><br>
(September 11, 2014) Read our article about the plight of sharks and the shark fin trade, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/09/shark-fin-sales-drop-by-70-in-china.html">click here.</a>
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<br /> <font size=3><b><font color=red>UPDATE:</font color=red></b> New Vegan Video Causes Controversy </font size=3> <br><br>
(October 22, 2014) Read our article about veganism and the vegetarian diet, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/new-vegan-video-causes-controversy.html">click here</a>.
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<br>
<b>For related articles in the Frog Blog:</b>
<br />
- New Vegan Video Causes Controversy <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/new-vegan-video-causes-controversy.html">Click here</a>.
<br>
- Shark Fin Sales Drop Up To 70% In China <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/09/shark-fin-sales-drop-by-70-in-china.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- "Let The Panda Die Out": Wildlife Expert <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.ca/2013/11/let-panda-die-out-wildlife-expert.html">Click here.</a>
<br>- Escaped Python Kills Two Boys <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/08/escaped-python-kills-two-boys.html">Click here</a>.
<br />
- Film: <i>Blackfish</i> Exposes SeaWorld Cruelty <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/08/film-blackfish-exposes-seaworld-cruelty.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- Bluefin Tuna Sold For $1.7 Million! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/bluefin-tuna-sold-for-17-million.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- Justin Bieber Attacked Over His Monkey <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/animal-group-blasts-bieber-on-monkey.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- Moron Lets Infant Play With A Gorilla <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/09/moron-lets-infant-play-with-gorilla.html">Click here.</a><br>
- Prince William Attacks Rhino Poachers <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/06/prince-william-attacks-rhino-poachers.html">Click here.</a><br>
- Exotic Animals To Return To Zanesville! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/exotic-animals-to-return-to-zanesville.html">Click here.</a><br>
- Bluefin Tuna Sold For A Record $736,000 <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/bluefin-tuna-sold-for-record-736000.html">Click here.</a><br>
- 50 Exotic/Rare Animals Killed In Ohio <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/56-exotic-animals-killed-in-ohio.html">Click here.</a>
Frog Blog Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086939950507122287noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625077740214410320.post-60789815786137349262014-02-10T17:12:00.002-05:002015-11-03T17:14:52.431-05:00BILL NYE DEBATES CREATIONIST KEN HAM<font size=3>Did Bill Nye Give An Idiot A Platform For Nonsense?</font size=3>
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<img src="http://www.froginawell.com/billnye.jpg"><br>
On Tuesday, February 4th, Bill Nye the Science Guy debated Ken Ham, a Young Earth Creationist, at the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yIueRlNxi4" target="_blank">Creation Museum</a> in Petersburg, Kentucky. Ken Ham is the curator of this so-called "museum" which has displays of prehistoric humans playing with dinosaurs. Frogbook.com reported on this fraudulent museum as well as Ham's proposed theme park called Ark Encounter in an earlier article: <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/kentucky-tax-break-for-creationist-park.html">"Tax-Break For Kentucky Creationist Park," click here</a>.
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But let's not get into the details of this almost three-hour-long debate here. Basically, from the perspective of a sane person, Bill Nye won the argument hands down. It wasn't hard to prove that the Earth is more than 6,000 years old, or that a wooden ark couldn't possibly carry all the different species of dinosaurs purported to be living just 4,300 years ago! (Oh, brother.) To watch the entire debate, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6kgvhG3AkI#t=848" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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<b>[<font color=red>Updated Insert – March 16, 2015:</font color = red> Read our latest article about Ark Encounter: <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/creation-theme-park-sues-for-tax-credit.html" >"Creation Theme Park Sues For Tax Credit," click here</a>.] </b>
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<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Creation_Museum_10.png/800px-Creation_Museum_10.png" width=400 height=302>~ Creation Museum of Kentucky. This can't be good for children!
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<b><font size=2> [92% of voters say Bill Nye won the debate in a <i>Christian Today</i> poll, <a href="http://www.salon.com/2014/02/06/92_percent_say_bill_nye_won_in_christian_today_poll/" target="_blank">click here</a>.]</b></font size=2>
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The main issue out of this globally publicised debate is whether Bill Nye should have given this nut, Ken Ham, a platform to broadcast his ignorant rants. Worse than that, did Mr. Nye generate free publicity for Ham's awful Creation Museum? Even some Right-wing religious activists were against the debate. Believe it or not, the controversial televangelist Pat Robertson (who once suggested that Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez should be assassinated) told Ken Ham to just shut up and not make a joke of himself, <a href="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/02/05/pat-robertson-implores-creationist-ken-ham-to-shut-up-lets-not-make-a-joke-of-ourselves/" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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~ Creationism is just a springboard to other Right-wing agendas.
<br><br>But is Ken Ham really just a fool who keeps offering untenable myths as scientific theories? Or does he know in his heart that he is spewing nonsense; and is it possible that his long-term game plan entails a much broader and insidious political agenda? Some writers think so, <a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2014/02/05/bill_nye_vs_ken_ham_it_s_not_about_science_versus_faith_it_s_about_public.html?wpisrc=burger_bar" target="_blank">click here</a>. Perhaps Mr. Ham wants to show the world that Intelligent Design (Creationism) is qualified to be placed side-by-side with real science via scientific debates (the Frog Blog thinks that's also the whole point of his ridiculous Creation Museum).
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What's discussed in a debate like this, and whether he wins or loses, are not important to Mr. Ham. What's important to him is that he is proposing an alternative to logic and reason in education – and that is dogma and indoctrination. In the past, in the Christian and Islamic worlds, logic was taught hand-in-hand with dogma in educational institutions. Maybe what Mr. Ham really wants is to simply de-secularize American education.
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<font size=2><b> [Map Of Publicly-Funded Schools That Are Allowed To Teach Creationism, <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2014/01/creationism_in_public_schools_mapped_where_tax_money_supports_alternatives.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.]</font size=2></b>
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~ Bill Nye: Creationism is bad for us.
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Whether Ken Ham is a moron, a madman, or a conman, one thing is certain, indoctrination is very different from education. A real educator teaches information to a student with the sincere belief that this information is in fact true. So, what is being taught is very important here. But someone who indoctrinates a student is working on a much more personal level. He is really demanding that the student TRUST him completely – without question. The lesson being taught here is really blind obedience, which thrives on ignorance, not knowledge.
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<center><font size=1>Photo taken by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/prosserus.photos?__mref=message" target="_blank">Patrick Ross.</a></font size=1> </center>
<img src="http://froginawell.com/pr-kids.jpg" width=400 height=252>~ Ken Ham's Creation Museum wages war on education.
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In fact, if an indoctrinator's message is based on logic and reason, it would actually work against him. The more illogical his argument (and as long as it contains things that the student wants to hear, such as <a href="http://wikiislam.net/wiki/72_Virgins" target="_blank">72 virgins in heaven</a>), the easier it is for the "teacher" to indoctrinate. This is because the thing being taught will always remain a mystery to the student who will constantly need to be reassured by the teacher. <br><br>
Education is about empowering the student with real knowledge and the skills with which to THINK. Indoctrination is about empowering the teacher (or the political entities he represents) at the expense of the student.
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<center><font size=7><b>* * *</center></font size=7></b>
<br /><font size=3><b><font color=red>UPDATE:</font color=red></b> Why The Debate Was A Mistake </font size=3> <br><br>
(February 28, 2014) It seems the debate generated enough publicity to raise even more money for this monstrosity called the Ark Encounter. It's okay to criticize Creationism on your own terms, but it's a mistake to give Creationists equal standing as if what they say have any logic or commonsense – let alone any scientific validity.
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~ Bill Nye is disappointed the debate helped the project.
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<br /><font size=3><b><font color=red>UPDATE:</font color=red></b> World's 1st Atheist TV Channel Launches </font size=3> <br><br>
(August 4, 2014) Read our latest article on atheism. Is the Internet the graveyard of religion? <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.ca/2014/08/worlds-1st-atheist-tv-channel-launches.html">Click here.</a>
<br /><br /><font size=3><b><font color=red>UPDATE:</font color=red></b> Is Atheist Bill Maher A Bigot? </font size=3> <br><br>
(January 20, 2015) Read our article on atheist and comedian Bill Maher's controversial comments about Muslims, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/01/is-bill-maher-atheist-bigot.html">click here</a>.
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<br /><font size=3><b><font color=red>UPDATE:</font color=red></b> Dr. Oz Is Unrepentant For Being A Quack! </font size=3> <br><br>
(May 21, 2015) Are TV doctors doing more harm than good, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/05/dr-oz-is-unrepentant-for-being-quack.html">click here</a>?
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<br>
<b>For related articles in the Frog Blog:</b>
<br />
- Donald Trump Says Vaccines Cause Autism <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/09/donald-trump-says-vaccines-cause-autism_23.html">Click here</a>.
<br>
- Dr. Oz Is Unrepentant For Being A Quack! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/05/dr-oz-is-unrepentant-for-being-quack.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- Creation Theme Park Sues For Tax Credit <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/creation-theme-park-sues-for-tax-credit.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- Is Atheist Bill Maher A Bigot? <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/01/is-bill-maher-atheist-bigot.html">Click here.</a>
<br>
- World's 1st Atheist TV Channel Launches <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/08/worlds-1st-atheist-tv-channel-launches.html"> Click here.</a>
<br />- Unvaccinated Kids Banned In NYC Schools <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/unvaccinated-kids-banned-in-nyc-schools.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- "Cyrus Prostituted Herself": Creationist <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/creationist-cyrus-prostituted-herself.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- Teaching Creationism Is Child Abuse <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/teaching-creationism-is-child-abuse.html">Click here.</a>
<br>- GOP Rep. Calls Evolution & Big Bang Lies <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/gop-rep-calls-evolution-big-bang-lies.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- The 2nd "Scopes Monkey Trial" Is Coming! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/2nd-scopes-monkey-trial-is-coming.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- Tax-Break For Kentucky Creationist Park <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/kentucky-tax-break-for-creationist-park.html ">Click here.</a>
<br />- Bachmann Wants Creationism In Schools <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/bachmann-wants-creationism-in-schools.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- "Evolution A Myth": Christine O’Donnell <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/christine-odonnell-evolution-myth.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- Creation Vs. Evolution: Darwin Defamed! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/creation-vs-evolution.html">Click here.</a>Frog Blog Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086939950507122287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625077740214410320.post-36660691666119220382014-01-04T13:48:00.002-05:002016-03-28T19:08:05.099-04:00THERE IS NO GAY GENE!<font size=3>But Homosexuality Is Still Not A Choice</font size=3>
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If homosexuals did have the "gay gene," you would think that gays would have gone extinct long ago. On the other hand, you could also argue that it was precisely society's strictures on homosexual behavior that perpetuated the homosexual "race," forcing them to procreate while they lead a double life. However, it is just as logical to assume that a heterosexual person could pass on this hypothetical "gay gene" to his/her offspring; this parent might not have the "symptoms," but was in fact just the "carrier" who would pass on this gene to his/her heterosexual <i>and</i> homosexual children.
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<center><font size=1>Photo taken by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/23165290@N00" target="_blank">Tim Evanson</a>.</font size=1></center>
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/Billow_-_DC_Gay_Pride_Parade_2012_%287171189831%29.jpg" width=400 height=434>
~ LGBT Pride celebration.
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At any rate, the discovery of a "gay gene" would bring closure to the age-old question about choice and hereditary factors – perhaps relieving some of the unfair pressure placed on homosexuals by organized religion for centuries. But at the same time, it raises concerns about the use of genetic engineering on humans to remove "undesirable" traits by society.
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In a paper published in <a href="http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/668167" target="_blank"><i>The Quarterly Review of Biology</i></a> on December 11th, 2013, scientists seem to be saying that the gay gene probably doesn't exist (authored by William R. Rice, Urban Friberg, and Sergey Gavrilets). At the same time, scientists are also confirming what gays and lesbians have been saying all along: they were born that way. It seems that the process of becoming gay starts in the womb. So, what's going on?
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~ National Geographic explains epigenetics and homosexuality.
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There is a relatively new discovery in biology called epigenetic marks, or "epi-marks." They are not genes, but are more like "switches" that control how genes function and are usually not passed on from one generation to another. However, some sex-specific epi-marks do occasionally get passed on from father to daughter and from mother to son. And in the womb, these epi-marks may activate or deactivate certain genes to determine the sexual orientation of an originally heterosexual fetus. In the recent study cited above, one theory states that gene regulation by sex-specific epi-marks is allowed to exist by evolution because it preserves the health of the parent, while slightly compromising the reproductive odds for future generations. These epi-marks tend to protect the mother from the fluctuations of sex hormones as the fetus is developing in her womb. As a possible side effect, the testosterone level of a male fetus may be reduced. However, the health of the fetus is not undermined by this process.
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Further evidence that homosexuality is a function of evolution comes in another study published in December of 2013, it is authored by researchers Andrea Camperio Ciani and Elena Pellizzari, <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0051088" target="_blank">click here</a>. Their study – together with another study in 2004 – have found that sisters, maternal aunts, and the maternal grandmother of gay men tend to have more children than those of straight men. There might be an unknown gene on the X chromosome that causes women, and some men, in this maternal line to have a higher attraction to the male gender. However, this gene is yet to be discovered. Again, the cost to fertility in the homosexual male is more than compensated by the extra fertility of his maternal female relatives.
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<b>[<font color=red>Updated Insert – May 29, 2015:</font color = red> This article seems to support the findings of Andrea Camperio Ciani and Elena Pellizzari; and there seems to be a genetic link, at least in fruit flies: <a href="http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/scientists-discover-evolutionary-advantage-homosexual-sex" target="_blank">"Scientists Discover Evolutionary Advantage For Homosexuality," click here</a>.] </b>
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~ The ancient battle against contraception persists to this day.
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Nature often has complicated, round-and-about ways to determine the best routes for survival. Like for the problems of man, solutions often involve complexity, compromise, and the weighing of the costs and benefits of certain evolutionary strategies. So, it is both ridiculous and disturbing when religious groups broadly dictate certain behaviors as being unnatural and against the will of God.
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One example is the Roman Catholic Church's archaic stance against contraception. It is the result of one of the Church's many, very simplistic, assumptions: fertility is good because to exist is better than NOT to exist. Duh. Yes, fertility perpetuates survival. But overpopulation has been proven time and time again to be most disastrous to any species it afflicts. In the world of humans, nations burdened with overpopulation tend to be behind in economic and social development compared to countries that have the technology to manage their fertility rate effectively, <a href="http://www.ippf.org/" target="_blank">click here</a>. For our planet as a whole, the overpopulation of humans has been catastrophic for its wildlife and ecological systems.
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~ Bonobos: a highly sexual nature aids in conflict resolution.
<br><br>And organized religion's arrogant view in regard to homosexuality is just as simpleminded and flawed. Gay = no baby = bad. What's even more infuriating is organized religion's attempt to use voodoo science in the futile effort to convert homosexuals. Banned in a number of countries and American states, conversion therapy not only does not work, it may do some serious harm, especially to young people, <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/bma-declares-that-conversion-therapy-for-gays-is-harmful-2016391.html" target="_blank">click here</a>. <br><br>
<b>[<font color=red>Updated Insert – November 25, 2014:</font color = red> Read the article: <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/11251206/Having-homosexual-thoughts-is-an-essential-part-of-human-evolution-study-suggests.html" target="_blank">"Having homosexual thoughts 'is an essential part of human evolution' study suggests," click here</a>.] </b>
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It is possible that the existence of homosexuality might be the result of the highly sexual nature of humans. As shown by our closest relative, the bonobo chimpanzee, this fluid sexuality might have given rise the to our ability to resolve conflicts and to cooperate in a social framework at the dawn of civilization. So, it should not be surprising that other animals, especially social mammals, also exhibit homosexual behavior. This "gay gene," if it exists, could very well be as primal and innate as the instinct to survive itself.
<br><br>For more information on homosexuality, see the trailer below of director Bryce Sage's documentary, <i>The Survival of the Fabulous</i>, originally broadcast in November of 2013 by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
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<iframe src="//player.vimeo.com/video/44220195" width="400" height="225" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe>
~ "Survival of the Fabulous," on <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/natureofthings/" target="_blank"><i>The Nature of Things</i></a>.
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<b>[<font color=red>Updated Insert – Mach 28, 2016:</font color = red> Read the article: <a href="http://www.iflscience.org/lesbian-gene-found-scientists-debate-origin/" target="_blank">"Lesbian Gene Found: Scientists Debate Origin," click here</a>.] </b>
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<br>
<b>For related articles in the Frog Blog:</b>
<br />- "Cyrus Prostituted Herself": Creationist <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/creationist-cyrus-prostituted-herself.html">Click here.</a>
<br>- Film: <i>The Unbelievers</i> Attacks Religion! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-unbelievers-film-attacks-religion.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- World's Oldest Man Breaks Records <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/worlds-oldest-man-breaks-records.html">Click here.</a>
<br>- GOP Rep. Calls Evolution & Big Bang Lies <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/gop-rep-calls-evolution-big-bang-lies.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- New World Record For Smallest Woman <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/new-world-record-for-smallest-woman.html">Click here.</a>Frog Blog Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086939950507122287noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625077740214410320.post-70845597396369915942013-12-09T16:32:00.001-05:002015-06-26T02:59:36.457-04:00FAR EAST TOPS O.E.C.D. EDUCATION RANKINGS <font size=3>United States Ranks 26th In Math Out Of 34 Nations</font size=3>
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~ Far East students dominate. There's a wide gender gap in math.
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On December 3rd, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (O.E.C.D.) produced its triennial education report thorugh its Programme for International Student Assessment (P.I.S.A.). The O.E.C.D. is made up of 34 member-nations. But for this P.I.S.A. study, 65 economies/countries participated in the research. Over 510,000 students (15 years of age) from around the world took part in this 2012 study.
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<img src="http://i.imgur.com/sMsYovA.png">
~ Top 25 performers out of 65 participating economies/countries.
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In mathematics, American 15-year-old students rank 36th in the world – below Russia and the Slovak Republic; and they rank 26th among the O.E.C.D. countries – that's in the bottom quarter of the list! Oddly, America on average spends more money on each student than most countries, ranking 5th in the world.
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So, what's going on? One theory is that while a small number of American kids are getting very, very expensive schooling, the vast majority are getting a very poor education. This means that the United States will be less and less able to compete in an ever-increasing science & math oriented world; at the same time, the wealth disparity between the rich and the poor will likely continue to widen to unprecedented levels within the U.S.
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<font size=2><b> [<font color=red>Updated Insert - January 30, 2014:</font color=red> School District Seizes Lunches From 40 Elementary Students in Debt,<a href="http://gawker.com/elementary-school-in-utah-seizes-lunches-from-40-studen-1512340825?utm_campaign=socialflow_gawker_facebook&utm_source=gawker_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow" target="_blank"> click here</a>.]</font size=2></b>
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~ Does the U.S. have a "feel good" education system?
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But what's more troubling is the politicalization of education in the U.S. Creationists and Climate-Change deniers – often well funded by special interest groups and corporations – have made progress in undermining the teaching of Evolution and Global Warming in the classroom. Both <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_theory" target="_blank">"theories"</a> are beyond reproach in science and are really not theories; but obfuscating and nonsensical controversies have been conjured up around them so as to damage their credibility. Sadly, when one part of science is undermined, other parts of science – if not all of science – also lose credibility. And as we said in our earlier article, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/2nd-scopes-monkey-trial-is-coming.html">"The 2nd 'Scopes Monkey Trial' Is Coming!"</a> the United States is losing ground to countries like China because American politicians allow children to be the ideological battlefield for political purposes.
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<font size=2><b> [<font color=red>Updated Insert - January 26, 2014:</font color=red> Map Of Publicly-Funded Schools That Are Allowed To Teach Creationism, <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2014/01/creationism_in_public_schools_mapped_where_tax_money_supports_alternatives.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.]</font size=2></b>
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~ Creationists in Texas may influence textbooks all over the U.S.
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Also, read our earlier article on how Creationists have infiltrated the education system of the United States: <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.ca/2013/02/teaching-creationism-is-child-abuse.html">"Teaching Creationism Is Child Abuse."</a> To put it bluntly, the reason why American students are falling behind is because some of their textbooks are filled with rubbish.
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~ U.S. colleges struggle to keep up with new technical skills.
<br /><br /><font size=3><b><font color=red>UPDATE:</font color=red></b> Unvaccinated Kids Banned In NYC Schools </font size=3> <br><br>
(July 7, 2014) Read our recent article on the "vaccine truthers," <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/unvaccinated-kids-banned-in-nyc-schools.html">click here</a>.
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<center><font size=7><b>* * *</center></font size=7></b>
<br>
<b>For related articles in the Frog Blog:</b>
<br />
- Anti-Vaxxers And Homeopaths Are Idiots! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2015/02/anti-vaxxers-and-homeopaths-are-idiots.html">Click here</a>.
<br />- Unvaccinated Kids Banned In NYC Schools <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/unvaccinated-kids-banned-in-nyc-schools.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- Teaching Creationism Is Child Abuse <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/teaching-creationism-is-child-abuse.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- The 2nd "Scopes Monkey Trial" Is Coming! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/2nd-scopes-monkey-trial-is-coming.html">Click here.</a>
<br />- Tax-Break For Kentucky Creationist Park <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/kentucky-tax-break-for-creationist-park.html ">Click here.</a>
<br />- Bachmann Wants Creationism In Schools <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/bachmann-wants-creationism-in-schools.html">Click here.</a>
Frog Blog Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086939950507122287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3625077740214410320.post-42175358549307784242013-11-04T19:13:00.003-05:002015-06-26T02:59:50.472-04:00"LET THE PANDA DIE OUT": WILDLIFE EXPERT <font size=3>America's First Surviving Twin Baby Pandas Get Names</font size=3>
<br><br> On October 23, 2013, America's first and only surviving baby-panda twins reached 100 days old at Zoo Atlanta. And according to Chinese tradition, that's the only time you assign a name to a baby (for both humans and pandas). Since October 9th, Americans have been voting online to decide on what to call these adorable male cubs. From five sets of suggested names, the people have finally chosen Mei Lun and Mei Huan, meaning "something indescribably beautiful and magnificent."
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<object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/g7grjGIY5pQ?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/g7grjGIY5pQ?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>
~ Pandamonium erupts as America votes on baby-panda names.
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Conservationists believe captive breeding through artifcal insemination is vital in keeping this endangered species from going extinct. There are only about 1,600 pandas left in the wild; and their natural habitat is continuing to fragment and shrink due to human encroachment caused by China's strong economic and industrial growth. But some scientists are beginning to wonder if there is any point in breeding pandas whose innate survival instincts are so weak that they may not survive if they were returned to the wild – and that's assuming there will be a natural habitat for them to return to in the future, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/mar/06/panda-breeding-disappearing-habitat" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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<object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZusWo86_3fg?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZusWo86_3fg?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>
~ Are resources better spent on other endangered species?
<br><br>In a debate on October 14th at the Royal Society (London), Chris Packham, the host of the BBC nature show <i>Springwatch</i>, argued against saving the embattled panda; he wanted to use the resources to save other more promising species instead, <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/conservation-must-stop-wasting-money-and-energy-on-giant-panda-and-other-cute-animals-warns-chris-packham-8877739.html" target="_blank">click here</a>. Mr. Packham is not a scientist but is the president of the Hawk Conservancy Trust and the Bat Conservation Trust; he is also a patron of numerous conservancy organizations, including the World Land Trust and Population Matters. Needless to say, the general population adamantly disagrees with Mr. Packham and he has received a lot of hate mail!
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<img src="http://www.froginawell.com/panda.jpg">
~ Is the panda's cuteness overshadowing other species in need?
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<font size=3><b>Is The Panda An Evolutionary Basket Case?</font size=3></b>
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On the surface, Mr. Packham might have a point. Not a long-lived animal (life expectancy at around 15 to 20 years in the wild), the panda isn't exactly the most prolific and robust of species in the rugged struggle for survival. Pandas are solitary animals that are notoriously prudish, with a relatively low fertility rate compared to other mammals. Mating season for the panda is very short, between March and May; and during this period, the mating occurs in just two to four days! Female pandas only give birth to one baby or a pair of twins each season; for the twins, one baby is always abandoned in favor of the stronger cub. The panda newborn is tiny and fragile (about 3 1/2 ounces or 100 grams) and the mother sometimes doesn't seem to know what to do with it. Technically, pandas are omnivores (at least their ancestors were), but modern pandas are really picky eaters that consume a 99% vegetarian diet, almost exclusively made up of alpine bamboo (which limits the panda's habitat range). And finally, the panda doesn't seem to be particularly smart compared to its bear cousins (including the brown bear and Asian black bear). And inbreeding in the wild is a major problem for the panda's survival as a species.
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<img src="http://www.froginawell.com/pandarange.png">
~ The panda's only habitat is small, fractured, and shrinking.
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But even with all of the panda's shortcomings, we at the Frog Blog think Chris Packham is probably wrong. He is only looking at the financial resources for wildlife preservation that are <b>after the fact</b>. He has overlooked the amount of ticket receipts, free publicity, donations, and merchandising revenue that pandas bring in as the "poster bear" for zoos and wildlife organizations all over the world – one being the very successful <a href="http://www.wwf.org" target="_blank">World Wildlife Fund</a> (which uses the image of the panda for its logo). If the panda were to go extinct, we think total revenue generated to save ALL wildlife would drop precipitously, thus endangering the survival of many other species.
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<object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GNsdmndRYQk?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GNsdmndRYQk?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>
~ World Wildlife Fund's fundraising campaign using the panda.
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The panda is the "anchor" in the conservation world – like that Sears or Walmart store in your local mall. Such stores usually get preferential treatment from the landlord, but that's because they are actually the ones that draw the customers into the mall in the first place. Without them as anchors, all the other smaller shops in the mall would not have any customers and the entire mall would go out of business.
<br><br>In fact, the panda is likely the main reason, if not the ONLY reason, why people pay good money to visit zoos. But whether captive pandas can return to the wild and flourish there one day is another matter. Regardless, any attempt to save them now is a no-lose situation for everybody.
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<br /><font size=3><b><font color=red>UPDATE:</font color=red></b> Corey Knowlton Pays $$$ To Kill Black Rhino </font size=3> <br><br>
(January 17, 2014) Read our latest update on rhino hunting, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/06/prince-william-attacks-rhino-poachers.html#knowlton">click here</a>.
<br /><br /><font size=3><b><font color=red>UPDATE:</font color=red></b> Asian Carps: Barbarians At The Gate! </font size=3> <br><br>
(March 14, 2014) Has the Asian carp broken into the Great Lakes? Read our latest article on this environmental disaster, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/03/barbarian-fishes-at-gate.html">click here</a>.
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<br /><font size=3><b><font color=red>UPDATE:</font color=red></b> Shark Fin Sales Drop Up To 70% In China</font size=3> <br><br>
(September 11, 2014) Read our article about the plight of sharks and the shark fin trade, <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/09/shark-fin-sales-drop-by-70-in-china.html">click here.</a>
<br><br>
<b>For related articles in the Frog Blog:</b>
<br>
- Shark Fin Sales Drop Up To 70% In China <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/09/shark-fin-sales-drop-by-70-in-china.html">Click here.</a>
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- Asian Carps: Barbarians At The Gate! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2014/03/barbarian-fishes-at-gate.html">Click here</a>.
<br>- Escaped Python Kills Two Boys <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/08/escaped-python-kills-two-boys.html">Click here</a>.
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- Film: <i>Blackfish</i> Exposes SeaWorld Cruelty <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/08/film-blackfish-exposes-seaworld-cruelty.html">Click here.</a>
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- Bluefin Tuna Sold For $1.7 Million! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/bluefin-tuna-sold-for-17-million.html">Click here.</a>
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- Justin Bieber Attacked Over His Monkey <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/animal-group-blasts-bieber-on-monkey.html">Click here.</a>
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- Moron Lets Infant Play With A Gorilla <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/09/moron-lets-infant-play-with-gorilla.html">Click here.</a><br>
- Prince William Attacks Rhino Poachers <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/06/prince-william-attacks-rhino-poachers.html">Click here.</a><br>
- Exotic Animals To Return To Zanesville! <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/exotic-animals-to-return-to-zanesville.html">Click here.</a><br>
- Bluefin Tuna Sold For A Record $736,000 <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/bluefin-tuna-sold-for-record-736000.html">Click here.</a><br>
- 50 Exotic/Rare Animals Killed In Ohio <a href="http://frogmailblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/56-exotic-animals-killed-in-ohio.html">Click here.</a>Frog Blog Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086939950507122287noreply@blogger.com2