Facilitated Communication Is Bogus

“'The vast majority of national mental health, medical and educational professional organizations in the United States have policies declaring (facilitated communication) unscientific and unethical,' according to the group’s letter."

'Facilitated communication' conference draws fire at University of Northern Iowa

How To Marginalize False Beliefs

Anyone who is a science-based thinker and attempts to dispell false beliefs held by others knows that the task is formidable at best. However, it is extremely important to try to do so because of the negative effects of false beliefs that are all around us. That said, I don't think that all false beliefs will be eradicated. I would be satisfied to have them all as marginalized as Flat Earth beliefs. Can you imagine religion, alternatives to medicine and all other beliefs unsupported by evidence being as marginalized?  What's that, you say that is "pie in the sky" thinking? Why? In these other cases, science has also falsified the claims?

Below are links that make suggestions on how to maximize our efforts to enlighten folks:

How to debunk false beliefs without having it backfire

The Key to Rational Argument: Reframe It as a Partnership

Street Epistemology 

The Cure for Christianity Library

(Pixabay)

A Break From The Evangelical Hold On The Republicans?

Statistics and polling show the overwhelming support of Trump and the Republicans by Evangelical Christians, especially whites (link).  However, the Southern Baptists are showing some promising signs of breaking away from the Republicans.

Southern Baptists Call Off the Culture War

Let's Get Real On The Economy

Trump and his sycophants continuously talk about how good the economy and the stock market are doing.  If they were science-based thinkers instead of magical/faith-based thinkers, perhaps they would know the truth.

Why aren't many Americans benefiting from the robust U.S. economy?

(Lead Liaison)

Don’t Be Fooled By ‘Processed’ Scripture: Those Damned Red Letters

"But no matter how much you believe that God inspired the Bible—whether literally or figuratively—the book that Billy was waving, or the copy on your church altar or at your bedside, isn’t actually the real thing. The real Bible disappeared a long time ago, never to be retrieved. The Bible you own today isn’t exactly fake, but it is processed."

There is no original Bible 

"Organic" Is Slick Marketing

Over the last several years, the type of food marketed under the "Organic" label has expanded from niche small outlets to a large presence within major supermarket chains. Is organic worth it?

Think organic food is better for you, animals, and the planet? Think again

 

Social Security: The Truth

There are numerous fake stories floating around the internet regarding Social Security.  This Snopes analysis clarifies it.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/federal-benefit-payments/

 

It’s All Too Much, And We Still Have To Care

"Sure, tune out that which makes you feel hopeless. But hold onto what motivates you to act. Find all the humans you can find who agree with you and make calls and register voters. Because if things continue on this way for people without funds, or with brown skin, or for women and children and the sick, there will come a time when we all have fewer choices. This is not yet that time. Get out of the snow bank, find the St. Bernard with the tiny flask of hope, and stomp around like democracy depends on it."

Yes, it is easy to be discouraged. Perhaps just thinking about how much worse it could get if we all clam up and do nothing to fight it will be a motivating factor.

What’s going on at the border is horrifying, but we can’t go numb and turn away

 

Suicide And Guns

"California, which has some of the nation’s lowest suicide rates, also has some of the nation’s toughest gun laws. Gun owners, for instance, must undergo background checks before buying ammunition, and authorities can temporarily seize the firearms of those deemed a danger to themselves or others."

California’s suicide rate is among America’s lowest – maybe because we control guns

 

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/editorials/article212856184.html#storylink=c

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/editorials/article212856184.html#storylink=cpy

A Closer Look At Belly Fat

The following article presents the nuances of belly fat.

The Dangers of Belly Fat

Just Another Fox Watching The Chicken Coop

With all the negative stuff coming out on Scott Pruitt recently, the news media has deemphasized the other cabinet members of Trump. Betsy DeVos is one who needs to be closely watched because of her ignorance and negative effects on education.

Betsy DeVos Reinstated College Accreditor Over Staff Objections

An Opinion On Single-Payer Healthcare Effects

 "Single-payer health care systems deliver better outcomes at much lower cost than those that rely primarily on private insurance, as we do in the United States."

Would a Single-Payer System Require Painful Sacrifices From Doctors?

Why Is The USA So Close To Israel?

" An opinion poll published Sunday shows deep division between Israelis and American Jews, particularly in relation to President Donald Trump, highlighting the growing rift between the world's two largest Jewish communities."

Religion poisons everything.  Disagree?  Look at the actions of Israel regarding settlements, for one thing. Israel is its own worst enemy.

Poll shows deep division between Israelis and American Jews

Preschool IS Valuable

"Reviewing the preschool curriculum and assuming that a bright student like the young Donald J. Trump would have mastered it, if our president had gone to preschool, today we would have a leader who is an articulate speaker, a proficient and enthusiastic reader and writer, a proficient estimator, an accurate observer of scientific facts, a concerned citizen of the world who displays understanding, respect and empathy for people with disabilities, all genders, ethnicities and religions, and an individual who can differentiate between real and fake news."

President Trump might be different had he attended preschool

Read more here: http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/readers-opinion/article212691969.html#storylink=c

Read more here: http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/readers-opinion/article212691969.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/readers-opinion/article212691969.html#storylink=cpy"

The Bible As ‘Word Of God”: Fatal Flaw Number 4 (of 5)

"I can think of at least five items that should be in the Bible that aren’t there: clear, unequivocal, easy-to-grasp prohibitions. With these missing—and with the quantities of human misery that ensued—it’s hard to take the Bible seriously as the best that could emerge from the divine mind. How could God have left out these commandments?"

The ‘Good Book’ Has Never Lived Up to the Hype 

 

The White House Foxes Are Still Watching The Chicken Coop

"The Trump administration, after heavy lobbying by the chemical industry, is scaling back the way the federal government determines health and safety risks associated with the most dangerous chemicals on the market, documents from the Environmental Protection Agency show."

The Chemical Industry Scores a Big Win at the E.P.A.

(Wikipedia)

Ya, The Earth Is "Special"

This discovery is significant, as at least another planet in our solar system has the building blocks for life. Indeed, life may have been there and/or is still there underground.

Life on Mars?

(JPL - NASA)

Here's Whose Advice We Need To Follow This Graduation Season

"We, the adults, have not earned the right to deliver your commencement addresses for we have created a mess of polarization, demonization, environmental damage and gun violence. Rather than letting us shatter your dreams for our world, please shatter our complacency and cynicism. Demand that our country work toward your ideals and ours. Rather than offering you advice, we are ready to follow yours."

High School Class of 2018, be nonconforming.

(Odyssey)

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/opinion/editorials/article212566359.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/opinion/editorials/article212566359.html#storylink=c

Exhibit A On Why Religion Will Be Hard To Wipe Out

The author is an atheist but claims that religion offers humanity something that science cannot give people. Hey guy, in recent weeks I have gone through some tough times and never turned to the "great placebo."  I'm fine without the bullshit.  SMH

What Religion Gives Us (That Science Can’t)

 

Hazing: Why Is This Still A Story?

 "I think that the universities and colleges of this country made a profound mistake in the middle of the last century, in the 1960s, when they decided that they were going to partner with fraternities and have offices of Greek life and have some kind of supervision over the fraternities. Fraternities were not created to be another nice club you could join like the chess club. They were created to be outlaw organizations, private clubs. And I think universities and colleges need to stop advertising them, promoting them, suggesting to parents that they have any ability to supervise their behavior. They have proven over and over again, in all of these events where we have dead young men, that they can't supervise them."

Hazing on college campuses, sports teams and fraternities, continues even with decades of publicity.  Why?  Hello? College should be places for critical thinking and learning, NOT for facilitating unthinking harmful "follow the crowd" attitudes and behaviors.

Deadly Hazing Continues On College Campuses

Research on the problem 

(Pinterest)

 

Hoover Is No Longer The Worst Republican President

"What was it that Sarah Palin once said about Obama’s foreign policy — that he was “coddling enemies and alienating allies”? Well, move over, Barack."

"Conservative apologists for Trump have long told us not to worry about his most extreme positions, because his sober-minded advisers would surely bring him to reason. Sure. This week one of those supposedly sober minds, Vice President Mike Pence, torpedoed relations with Canada by abruptly demanding a five-year sunset clause for a renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement."

"The darker echoes of the 1930s are sounding louder. The shadow of Hoover grows longer. We know how this movie ends. If Trump’s economic adviser Larry Kudlow had a gram of self-respect he’d resign."

Herbert Hoover’s Ghost

 

Are You A Racist? Before Answering, Read This Post

I grew up in a culture of white protestantism in a suburb of Boston, MA (Lexington). I never met a person of ANY color but white in my town. Our family was Catholic and we were in the minority religiously (the Pilgrims, the Puritans, morphed into the Congregationists who were the majority).  My point? Even though I was never "taught" to be racist, as I became an adult, I did have some discomfort in the company of people of color and even the Jewish.  Have I COMPLETELY shed such deep emotions? Since I really understand how the mind can fool us, I honestly have to say that even as a 73 year old progressive, I consciously have to suppress deep feelings toward the "other."  If you think you are different than me, you do not understand how the brain works. I am humble enough to admit it and fight it, are you? Understand reality through science. Get above your "feelings."

Racism Not Always by Racists

A Wise Quote Needed Today

Edmund Burke (1730 – 1797) is recognized as not only a great political and philosophical thinker praised by both conservatives and liberals, but also the philosophical founder of modern conservatism.

Colossal Deceptions To Protect The Faith

"Yes, we can give Thielen some credit for trying to humanize Christianity, but he serves too many generous helpings of bad theology. He wants churches to use his book as a study guide, and he includes detailed instructions to help them along with that. But he doesn’t drive Christians to be curious about the big problems of the faith. He tries the cover-up approach instead, and guides his readers away from thoughtful due diligence. Christians, snap out of it: preachers are paid propagandists, and Thielen plays the role to perfection."

Christianity Thrives When Curiosity Doesn’t 

Abusing The Pardon An Impeachable Offense?

"In short, Madison said that the remedy for presidential misuse of the pardon power was impeachment.  I stand with Madison."

Me also.

James Madison on abuse of the pardon power as an impeachable offense