Scott Ott brings us some astonishing news: it turns out that if you break an apple down into its components and consume all of them, it is not as healthy for you as actually eating the apple. Turns out the world is not only more complex than we imagine… it’s more complex than we can imagine. Now how do we get the Big Brains in Science, Politics and Economics to understand something so simple and obvious?

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DAVID STANTON
December 16, 2023 10:44 PM

Irreducible complexity may be the best demonstration of just how stinking stupid evolutionism is.—– It’s true that the Bible doesn’t specifically identify the fruit Eve sold us down the river with. But, a sound argument can be made that it was a pomegranate. Of all the thousands of fruits God could have chosen, He only used the pomegranate in His “decoration” of the Temple. Since the purpose of the Temple was to (temporarily) atone for sin, this would be a logical choice. Also, many Biblical truths are imperfectly echoed in the traditions of other ancient civilizaions (e.g. the many flood… Read more »

Last edited 10 months ago by DAVID STANTON
George Walther
December 7, 2023 1:04 PM

Economic complexity: someone said hunter gatherer societies had about 300 “sku’s” or “types of stock units” that they made or had available (arrow heads, reed baskets, loin clothes, axe head and handle, etc.), while our modern global economy deals with over 1 billion sku’s. And if 300 million people (with adults covering for infants) make (say) 3 to 30 economic decisions per day, we have 1 billion to 10 billion decisions for the economists to try and sort out, per day! No wonder they usually guess wrong. Part of the opposite of reductionism is when something is “emergent”!. We can… Read more »

ACTS (TM)
Reply to  George Walther
December 7, 2023 6:25 PM

Any way you look at it, “the sum is greater than the parts” applies. That is a truly wondrous thing. It should also be something “science” takes into account and probably does when “science” isn’t just a synonym for “hubris”. Real science should never have a hubris component. I think if you look for hubris and find it then you can be reasonably certain you’re not dealing with real science. That would be a ‘tell’.

Albin Veselka
December 5, 2023 12:52 PM

This was such a great discussion on the virtue of the free market as the only way to select the optimal tradeoffs for the overall financial well being of a nation.

ACTS (TM)
December 5, 2023 12:03 PM

Sometimes I have to SMH a little at some of the comments that people drop on these episodes. I was going to respond to them individually then thought better of that. I’ll just start my own thread so you all can click the thumbs down button in the same comment all at once … This episode was about hubris, reductionism and the unwise effort to control something that is both self correcting and better left on its own. It was about how attempting to control something that is better at controlling itself than you are leads to unwanted and dangerous… Read more »

Last edited 10 months ago by ACTS (TM)
Tom Stratton
Reply to  ACTS (TM)
December 5, 2023 12:39 PM

Thanks ever so for explaining what this episode is and is not! Now we don’t need to watch it and see for ourselves.
Bless your heart.

ACTS (TM)
Reply to  Tom Stratton
December 5, 2023 1:11 PM

Why would what I said in any way indicate that “you don’t need to watch it”? That was a dumb thing to say, If that’s your attitude then hey, don’t watch it. Your loss not mine. … And no, your sarcasm didn’t go over my head. It’s so droll the banality of it needed to be pointed out. If the episode didn’t need explaining to SOME people then there would be NO people making out like this was about their nutrition fetish If saying that somehow wounds you, that’s just too bad. I notice you didn’t disagree with what I… Read more »

Last edited 10 months ago by ACTS (TM)
David Pimentel
Reply to  ACTS (TM)
December 5, 2023 2:03 PM

Given your propensity of derision/scorn toward others’ gleaning different messages than your own interpretation causes me to think that someone has defecated in your corn flakes today. Not everyone chooses to discuss every point made in any of these videos, and that does not indicate the other messages are lost. To think so would indicate an over-sized ego. See? I didn’t even comment on the video, and yet a discussion is continued. That said, your comments about the major themes of the Boys’ discussion are good ones and appreciated. It’s unfortunate that you had to coat them in such a… Read more »

Last edited 10 months ago by David Pimentel
ACTS (TM)
Reply to  David Pimentel
December 7, 2023 6:18 PM

So … You don’t like the way I said my piece. Even though I didn’t heap any derision or scorn on anyone specifically. Fine. Sue me.

You once called me “thin skinned”. From one grumpy old phart to another, I find it greatly amusing that you can’t be bothered to heed your own advice.

TIMOTHY EAVES
December 5, 2023 11:53 AM

Guys, please, fix the time lag. Quit bouncing your signal off the moon.

Brother Bob
December 5, 2023 10:00 AM

“Only God can make a tree, I will grant you
But only man can make a fortieth floor.”
— Felix Unger

ACTS (TM)
Reply to  Brother Bob
December 5, 2023 12:02 PM

Of course a Being that can create an entire universe that works could create a fortieth floor if he so chose. This is why Felix Unger was never renowned for his penetrating philosophical and theological acumen. He was more of a “Your cigar ashes are working their way into the nap of my carpet!” kind of guy.

Brother Bob
Reply to  ACTS (TM)
December 5, 2023 4:44 PM

That’s why Oscar was the writer!

Ron Swansons Alter Ego
December 5, 2023 7:35 AM

A very interesting episode and thought for one, Scott Thanks. I recently watched a short video of a nutritionist reviewing a video of a skinny “fit” vegan and going through what she eats in a day. Starting with a half of a watermelon for breakfast. Then mangoes for lunch. She is essentially eating all carbs and he ends his review by letting us know that she is suffering from malnutrition. Not just because she is eating no meats, but because she is missing out on the correct nutrients AND he points out that it is not possible to take in… Read more »

Brother Bob
Reply to  Ron Swansons Alter Ego
December 5, 2023 10:01 AM

Funny how the “Follow the science” crowd is always the last to do so

Brian Thomson
December 5, 2023 7:22 AM

If you do a simple Bible study, you will find that there are tiers of food that God recommended for people to eat, from the healthiest to the worst. The first tier is raw plants, beans, nuts, grains, fruits, and vegetables. The second tier is birds of the air, or fish of the sea that have both fins and scales. The third tier is land animals that both have a split hoof and chew cud. Some Christians see a fourth tier from the dream that God sent an apostle. In the dream a blanket lowered from heaven. The blanket opened… Read more »

Keith Jackson
December 5, 2023 4:55 AM

I can see it now. Ancient proto-humans figuring out how to breed certain catalytic chemicals and molecular patterns into what would ultimately be fruits and vegetables that are successful in providing everything we need to live while hunting meat. That’s not snark, they did select, you say? Well, I submit we select for size, taste, and color and the. fruits and vegetables that tasted bad and were too small or an off-putting color had great nutritional value to begin with. There is just too much “coincidence” out there to explain. Too much “if this happens, that happens.” Thank God.

John Staley
Reply to  Keith Jackson
December 5, 2023 7:35 AM

Don’t forget the first guy who ate the wrong mushroom!! Someone had to be the example of what not to do. One of my favorite food jokes is that Japanese cuisine came about because of a dare. ie; bet you won’t eat that!!