MINI ICE AGE COMING IN 2030: SCIENTISTS

How Will This Affect Climate Change?

In early July, scientists met at the Royal Astronomical Society in the UK, click here. 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!

Source: NASA ~ Changes in solar activity over the years.

This anticipated phenomenon of the Sun has been compared to the Maunder Minimum (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 Medieval Warm Period (950 to 1250 AD) are referred to as the Little Ice Age (around 1550 to 1850 AD, bracketing the Maunder Minimum).

~ A mini ice age could last decades or centuries.

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, click here.

Image created by Robert A. Rohde. (Click on image to enlarge.) ~ Has the long-term uptrend in sunspots caused Climate Change?

The main questions are:
1) Is there really an excessive amount of CO2 in the atmosphere today?
2) Who or what has created this extra CO2?
3) Do different levels of CO2 in the atmosphere really cause changes in the Earth's temperature?
4) Does solar activity really have an impact on the Earth's temperature?

(Click on image to enlarge.) ~ Atmospheric CO2 concentration from 400,000 years ago to now.

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.

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, click here.

~ Fact: humans ARE creating more CO2 in the atmosphere.

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.

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, click here.

~ How CO2 warms the atmosphere.

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.

~ Is this divergence caused by CO2?

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, click here. 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: "U.S. To Cut CO2 Emissions By 1/3 In 15 Yrs.")

Source: Wikipedia. ~ China, India and other developing nations are industrializing.

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: "Solar Flares To Peak In 2013 – Disaster?").

The possible drop in temperature due to the reduction in solar activity around 2030 would likely to be insignificant, click here. And our current Global Warming situation might neutralize – or at the least mitigate – any effects from a temperature drop that might occur.

~ NASA explains the solar cycle. "Isn't something to worry about."

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, click here).


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UPDATE: Nuclear Power Is Best For Climate Change

(August 20, 2015) Read our article on why nuclear power is the only realistic way to cut out all carbon, click here.

For related articles in the Frog Blog:
- Nuclear Power Is Best For Climate Change Click here.
- End Of The World Coming In September? Click here.
- Oil Crash Could End Fracking & Oil Sands Click here.
- U.S. To Cut CO2 Emissions By 1/3 In 15 Yrs. Click here.
- Obama Likely To Approve Keystone XL Click here.
- U.N. Climate Report Spells Disaster Click here.
- Arctic Ice Grew By 30% – Global Cooling? Click here.
- Solar Flares To Peak In 2013 Click here.
- Keystone Pipeline Would Be A Disaster Click here.
- Fools Panic As Maya End-Time Nears Click here.
- Arctic Ice Melts To Lowest Level Ever Click here.
- Rick Perry Calls Global Warming A Hoax Click here.
- Doomsday Prophets Are Idiots! Click here.
- Climate-Change Deniers Gain In Congress Click here.
- Palin Blames "Greenies" For BP Oil Spill Click here.

END OF THE WORLD COMING IN SEPTEMBER?

NASA Was Forced To Address Conspiracists' Claims

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.

Also, read our earlier article, "Fools Panic As Maya End-Time Nears," click here.

~ Some say the Earth will be destroyed on September 23, 2015!

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 (click here), to a total climate catastrophe, to a nuclear war, to a gigantic earthquake, and to the switching of the magnetic poles.

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.

~ It's all nonsense.

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 Illuminati that will enslave the planet in a New World Order (NWO).


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."

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.

~ Documentary: Why Do People Believe in Conspiracy Theories?

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.

In our earlier article, "Doomsday Prophets Are Idiots!," 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).

~ A fool loses his life savings.

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.

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.


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UPDATE: Mini Ice Age Coming In 2030: Scientists

(July 19, 2015) Read our article on how solar activity changes the Earth's climate, click here.

For related articles in the Frog Blog:
- Mini Ice Age Coming In 2030: Scientists Click here.
- NASA Says We'll Find Alien Life In A Decade Click here.
- Solar Flares To Peak In 2013 Click here.
- Fools Panic As Maya End-Time Nears Click here.
- UFO Spotted Over Denver! Click here.
- There Are Billions Of Habitable Planets! Click here.
- Doomsday Prophets Are Idiots! Click here.

DR. OZ IS UNREPENTANT FOR BEING A QUACK!

Food Babe And Others Spread Rubbish On The Net

Photo taken by World Economic Forum ~ What the hell is he doing?

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.

[Updated Insert – June 13, 2015: Read this article from Vox.com: "The American Medical Association Is Finally Taking A Stand On Quacks Like Dr. Oz," click here.]

~ Dr. Oz doubles down on nonsense. Not really a "medical" show?

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!

~ Dr. Oz being grilled by the Senate over "magic" diet pills.

Since 2009, Dr. Oz has touted so much nonsense that we don't have time to mention all of them here. But this article, "Dr. Oz's 10 Most Controversial Weight Loss Supplements," 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.

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, "Anti-Vaxxers And Homeopaths Are Idiots!"

~ Dr. Oz supports the pseudo science of homeopathy.

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 anything 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.

~ Dr. Oz brings a faith healer onto his show.

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.

~ The Long Island Medium on The Dr. Oz Show.

The Monetization Of Ignorance

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.

~ Conspiracy and anti-science nut Alex Jones is very popular.

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 what they want to hear.

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, "The 'Food Babe' Blogger Is Full of Shit"). 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.

~ Food Babe is a fearmonger. Alex Jones loves her, click here.

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, click here. 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.

Source: Wikipedia.org ------------~ It is natural to die young.

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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UPDATE: Anti-Vaxxers Say Autistic Muppet Is A Plot

(October 27, 2015) Read about the crazy anti-vaxxers and why they think Julia the autistic Muppet normalizes "vaccination injuries," click here?

For related articles in the Frog Blog:
- Anti-Vaxxers Say Autistic Muppet Is A Plot Click here.
- Donald Trump Says Vaccines Cause Autism Click here.
- Anti-Vaxxers And Homeopaths Are Idiots! Click here.
- Is Atheist Bill Maher A Bigot? Click here.
- Bill Nye Debates Creationist Ken Ham Click here.
- "Cyrus Prostituted Herself": Creationist Click here.
- Justin Bieber Attacked Over His Monkey Click here.

NASA SAYS WE'LL FIND ALIEN LIFE IN A DECADE

But Aliens Making Contact With Us Is Highly Unlikely

~ NASA's Ellen Stofan: "We know where to look..."

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 intelligent life. Finding intelligent life would be a very remote possibility and alien contact would be highly unlikely to almost impossible.

Also, read our earlier article on space aliens, "UFO Spotted Over Denver!"

~ The Drake Equation. Not many civilizations are in our galaxy.

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, "Search Of 100,000 Galaxies Finds No Sign Of Alien Life."

~ Our galaxy and our universe are very, very big.

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.)

~ Whenever you are in motion, TIME slows down only for YOU!

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 time dilation, 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, click here), they would have travelled to our future many million years from now! We're likely not here by then.

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: "Astrophysicist Says Wormholes Of 'Interstellar' Unlikely To Exist," click here.

~ Without wormholes, travelling through space-time is difficult.

[Updated Insert – May 11, 2015: And what about travelling at warp speed? Read this article: "No Warp Drive Here: NASA Downplays 'Impossible' EM Drive Space Engine," click here.]

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, click here. 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, click here. (Read our earlier article about habitable planets and the Goldilocks Zone, "There Are Billions Of Habitable Planets," click here.)

~ Having just the right defenses against space weather matters...

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.

~ Are we alone? Will we pick up alien signals?

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.

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).

Updated (July 23, 2015): Has NASA found Earth's twin?


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For related articles in the Frog Blog:
- Solar Flares To Peak In 2013 – Disaster? Click here.
- UFO Spotted Over Denver! Click here.
- There Are Billions Of Habitable Planets! Click here.

CREATION THEME PARK SUES FOR TAX CREDIT

School Vouchers Are A Legal Loophole For Creationism

On February 3rd, Ken Ham, president and CEO of Answers In Genesis, posted an announcement on Youtube, click here. 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.

~ Ken Ham thinks discrimination is a right if you're religious.

We reported on Ark Encounter in February of 2012: "Tax-Break For Kentucky Creationist Park," click here. 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.

Photo taken by Patrick Ross. ~ Creation Museum and Ark Encounter spread misinformation.

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.

Photo taken by Patrick Ross. (Click on image to enlarge.) ~ Creation Museum display: animals changed rapidly in 6,000 yrs.

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?

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, click here. 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, Exodus (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.

~ Studios make religious films that could be used in theme parks.

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, "Bill Nye Debates Creationist Ken Ham," click here.

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.

~ Gov't incentives can't be used for religious discrimination.

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.

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.

~ Politico: "Taxpayers Fund Creationism In The Classroom."

Since we've brought up the issue of tuition vouchers, let us also mention that according to Zelman v. Simmons-Harris (2002), the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that for a voucher program to be constitutional, it must meet all of the following criteria:

The program must have a valid secular purpose.

Aid must go to parents and not to the schools.

A broad class of beneficiaries must be covered.

The program must be neutral with respect to religion.

There must be adequate nonreligious options.

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.

~ Vouchers: a legal loophole for Creationism. (Taped in 2002.)

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 wants 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, "Teaching Creationism Is Child Abuse," click here.

[Map Of Publicly-Funded Schools That Are Allowed To Teach Creationism, click here]


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For related articles in the Frog Blog:
- World's 1st Atheist TV Channel Launches Click here.
- Unvaccinated Kids Banned In NYC Schools Click here.
- Bill Nye Debates Creationist Ken Ham Click here.
- Far East Tops O.E.C.D. Education Rankings Click here.
- "Cyrus Prostituted Herself": Creationist Click here.
- Film: The Unbelievers Attacks Religion! Click here.
- Teaching Creationism Is Child Abuse Click here.
- GOP Rep. Calls Evolution & Big Bang Lies Click here.
- The 2nd "Scopes Monkey Trial" Is Coming! Click here.
- Tax-Break For Kentucky Creationist Park Click here.
- Bachmann Wants Creationism In Schools Click here.
- Doomsday Prophets Are Idiots! Click here.
- "Evolution A Myth": Christine O’Donnell Click here.
- Creation Vs. Evolution: Darwin Defamed! Click here.

ANTI-VAXXERS AND HOMEOPATHS ARE IDIOTS!

Did You Know Prince Charles Is A Homeopathy Nut?

Photo taken by Dan Marsh ~ Why is the prince involved in public health policy anyway?

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, click here.

What is Homeopathy?

~ Homeopathy is utter rubbish!

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.

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: "Homeopathy Couple Jailed Over Daughter's Death," click here.

~ How the placebo effect works.

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.

~ U.S. homeopath tries to spread anti-vaccine rubbish to Australia.

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, click here. Here are some of the misinformation that some vaccine truthers knowingly promote over and over again: "5 Myths Surrounding Vaccines – And The Reality."

~ Autism rates went up while vaccine loads went down over time.

Nowadays, the vaccine truther movement is quite prevalent around the world, click here. 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, click here. 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, click here. It's about time gullible fools realize that the homeopathic industry and the anti-vaccination movement are driven by nuts, idiots, charlatans, and greed.

~ Scammers on the Internet touting homeopathic "immunization."

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, click here. 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.

~ Vaccination should be 100% mandatory.

To learn about "herd immunity," vaccines' effectiveness rates, and other related issues, read our earlier article: "Unvaccinated Kids Banned In NYC Schools," click here.

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, click here. Others blame actress and former Playboy model, Jenny McCarthy, 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.

~ Anti-vaxxers are selfish. Ban unvaccinated kids from schools.

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.

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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UPDATE: Dr. Oz Is Unrepentant For Being A Quack!

(May 21, 2015) Did you know Dr. Oz supports homeopathy, click here?

UPDATE: Anti-Vaxxers Say Autistic Muppet Is A Plot

(October 27, 2015) Read about the crazy anti-vaxxers and why they think Julia the autistic Muppet normalizes "vaccination injuries," click here?

For related articles in the Frog Blog:
- Anti-Vaxxers Say Autistic Muppet Is A Plot Click here.
- Donald Trump Says Vaccines Cause Autism Click here.
- Dr. Oz Is Unrepentant For Being A Quack! Click here.
- Feral Cat Colony Found At Disneyland Click here.
- New Vegan Video Causes Controversy Click here.
- Unvaccinated Kids Banned In NYC Schools Click here.
- Far East Tops O.E.C.D. Education Rankings Click here.
- Prince William Attacks Rhino Poachers Click here.

IS ATHEIST BILL MAHER A BIGOT?

Is Islam Prone To Violence And Terrorism?

Photo taken by Angela George. ~ Is Bill Maher really a liberal?
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 "Film: The Unbelievers Attacks Religion"). This time, atheist and comedian Bill Maher has caught our attention. On January 7th, on Jimmy Kimmel live, Maher has doubled down on his controversial opinion that Muslims in general support violence, especially in regard to the Charlie Hebdo tragedy.

~ Maher says Muslims applaud Charlie Hebdo murders (4:00).

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, click here.

~ Expert attacks Bill Maher's factual errors.

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, Politically Incorrect ) actually represents classical liberalism or libertarianism. 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 neo-conservative in this respect). And this latter issue might have colored his position on the Muslims

~ Bill Maher is a strong supporter of the State of Israel.

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, "Are All Terrorists Muslims? It’s Not Even Close," click here.

~ How many Muslim countries has the U.S. bombed? Click here.

According to the National Geographic, as many as 500,000 Iraqis have died due to both American invasions, click here. And without any doubt, Iraq never had any weapons of mass destruction nor was Iraq ever involved with any terrorist groups, click here. 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.

~ Who invented terrorism in the Middle East?

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.

~ To blame someone for what they didn't do is bigotry.

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, click here.)

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).

~ Munich. Cycles of violence have made matters worse and worse.

In the clip above from the film, Munich (2005), about the Munich massacre 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.

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, click here. Yet, people like Bill Maher and magazines like Charlie Hebdo have seared into people's heads that Islam is synonymous with terrorism, click here. The bottom line is, this is still a political struggle and terrorism will likely recede if Western hegemony stops. Read this article, "To End Terrorism By Muslims, End Wars On Muslims."

Also, read our earlier article, "World's 1st Atheist TV Channel Launches," click here.


* * *
UPDATE: Dr. Oz Is Unrepentant For Being A Quack!

(May 21, 2015) Are TV doctors doing more harm than good, click here?

For related articles in the Frog Blog:
- Donald Trump Says Vaccines Cause Autism Click here.
- Dr. Oz Is Unrepentant For Being A Quack! Click here.
- World's 1st Atheist TV Channel Launches Click here.
- Bill Nye Debates Creationist Ken Ham Click here.
- "Cyrus Prostituted Herself": Creationist Click here.
- Film: The Unbelievers Attacks Religion! Click here.
- Justin Bieber Attacked Over His Monkey Click here.

OIL CRASH COULD END FRACKING & OIL SANDS

But Green Energy Might Also Be Hurt

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).

~ How low can oil drop?

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, click here.

~ Frigging fracking is fracking...

[Updated Insert – December 22, 2014: Read the article from the Telegraph.co.uk: "Oil Plummets After Saudis Say $20 Crude Is Possible," click here.]

In fact, shale technology has made the United States the world's largest oil producer in 2014! See our April 14, 2014 article titled, "Obama Likely To Approve Keystone XL." (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.)

~ What is hydraulic fracking?

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, "Keystone Pipeline Would Be A Disaster," click here.

~ Geopolitical issues at play.

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, click here.

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, click here. 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, click here.

~ Ruble's collapse on Dec 16th. Interests rates rise to 17%.

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.

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.

~ Miles per gallon of vehicles are rising over time.

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.

In addition, the expansion of public transportation systems and the growth of hybrid, electric, and even hydrogen 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.

~ I.P.C.C. hopes to eliminate fossil fuels by 2100.

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, click here. 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.

~ Greater subsidies will be needed for renewables.

[Updated Insert – November 6, 2015: 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: "Obama Vetoes Keystone XL Pipeline, Leaving It In Limbo"). 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.]

~ The Keystone XL is dead – for now.


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UPDATE: Nuclear Power Is Best For Climate Change

(August 20, 2015) Read our article on why nuclear power is the only realistic way to cut out all carbon, click here.

For related articles in the Frog Blog:
- Nuclear Power Is Best For Climate Change Click here.
- U.S. To Cut CO2 Emissions By 1/3 In 15 Yrs. Click here.
- Obama Likely To Approve Keystone XL Click here.
- U.N. Climate Report Spells Disaster Click here.
- Arctic Ice Grew By 30% – Global Cooling? Click here.
- Keystone Pipeline Would Be A Disaster Click here.
- Arctic Ice Melts To Lowest Level Ever Click here.
- Rick Perry Calls Global Warming A Hoax Click here.
- Climate-Change Deniers Gain In Congress Click here.
- Palin Blames "Greenies" For BP Oil Spill Click here.

FERAL CAT COLONY FOUND AT DISNEYLAND

Cats Kill Up To 3.7 Billion Birds Per Year In The U.S.

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.)

~ A feral cat "admiring" the ducks at Disneyland.

About a week ago, Vice.com published a report on a colony of about a hundred feral cats at Disneyland, click here. 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.

~ Feral cats fending for themselves.

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.

~ Indoor cats live better lives than outdoor cats.

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.

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. Click here.

~ T.N.R. (trap-neuter-return) reduces population through attrition.

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.

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, click here. 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.

~ Stray dogs are also a very big problem.

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, click here. 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, click here).

~ Pure-bred dogs and cats are less healthy than mix-breeds.

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. Click here.

~ Avoid pet dealers and puppy mills as well as kitty mills.


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For related articles in the Frog Blog:
- Shark Fin Sales Drop Up To 70% In China Click here.
- Asian Carps: Barbarians At The Gate! Click here.
- "Let The Panda Die Out": Wildlife Expert Click here.
- Escaped Python Kills Two Boys Click here.
- Film: Blackfish Exposes SeaWorld Cruelty Click here.
- Bluefin Tuna Sold For $1.7 Million! Click here.
- Justin Bieber Attacked Over His Monkey Click here.
- Moron Lets Infant Play With A Gorilla Click here.
- Prince William Attacks Rhino Poachers Click here.
- Exotic Animals To Return To Zanesville! Click here.
- Bluefin Tuna Sold For A Record $736,000 Click here.
- 50 Exotic/Rare Animals Killed In Ohio Click here.