Penn & Teller: Bullshit! Season 7

Orgasms

22 (12.1%)

Astrology

5 (2.7%)

Video Games

19 (10.4%)

The Apocalypse

18 (9.9%)

Lie Detectors

12 (6.6%)

Organic Food

18 (9.9%)

Taxes

58 (31.9%)

Lawns

8 (4.4%)

Stress

8 (4.4%)

The Vatican

14 (7.7%)

Total Members Voted: 43

[Lindsey]

The 2012 one was amusing.  Though I thought they could have used the show's budget a little more wisely than to make fun of people who believe that the Mayan calendar will end on 12/21/2012 and we're all gonna die.   

[Alex Libman 14]

Speaking of tonight's episode...

From Slashdot -- UK's FSA Finds No Health Benefits To Organic Food --

The UK Food Standards Agency's "Independant Organic Review" results were just released, and the BBC rushed to publish the findings in the shockingly titled article, "No Health Benefits to Organic Food".

From the article, "there is little difference in nutritional value and no evidence of any extra health benefits from eating organic produce, UK researchers found".  A peek into the research at PostPeakPublishing provides a slightly deeper look.

I am a big fan of food security -- that is voluntary consumer preference for the food grown by themselves, their family, their friends, and their neighbors -- but the broader "organic industry" is indeed protectionist big government bullshit!

[blackie]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8174482.stm

The review did not look at pesticides or the environmental impact of different farming practices.

...

"Also, there is not sufficient research on the long-term effects of pesticides on human health," he added.

[Rillion]

As with most subjects, "organic" is ambiguous.   It's not just about tasting better.  It's not just about pesticides.  It's not just about what's more healthier for the consumer, although all of these are important.  It's also about how the animals you're eating have been treated. 

The reason why I buy organic eggs is that "free range" doesn't really mean anything in terms of how the chickens are treated, and what they're fed.  They could be fed the same old corn and growth hormone meal crapola, and they can still be labeled "free range" if there's a small open door in the barn where they spend the entirety of their days.  Chickens which are actually pastured raised, on the other hand, produce eggs which are dramatically more healthy than those raised on a factory farm and live much better lives besides. 

At Sprouts, the local farmer's market, you can get an organic bunch of celery that is much bigger and tastes better than the standard kind for about 30 cents more.  I'll stick with organic, thanks. 

Fake titted blondes?  Yeah, seen tons of those already. 

In short:  Boooooooooooring. 

[Bill Brasky]

I don't go out of my way to buy organic, but I do attempt to avoid pure crap like Twinkies.  Its hard to avoid chemicals and preservatives, so I guess every little bit helps, and when I have the chance to select something locally raised or attempts to call itself organic, I'll probably select it.  But everything you touch, no matter how innocent it appears, is just loaded with chemicals.  So theres no avoiding them unless you have a total change of your habits entirely. 

I'm sitting here, and theres a bowl of Keebler "sociables" crackers I had with cheese earlier.  I know if I look, theres probably some weirdo shit in it, like "malodexterin", and the wheat is probably factory farmed with all sorts of enhancement fertilizers in it.  Every single day, its in everything.  So, you're fucked.  A few eggs and celery ain't gonna help.  But I do it anyway, in an attempt to balance it out, minimize it, whatever. 

[Rillion]

I'm sitting here, and theres a bowl of Keebler "sociables" crackers I had with cheese earlier.  I know if I look, theres probably some weirdo shit in it, like "malodexterin", and the wheat is probably factory farmed with all sorts of enhancement fertilizers in it.  Every single day, its in everything.  So, you're fucked.  A few eggs and celery ain't gonna help.  But I do it anyway, in an attempt to balance it out, minimize it, whatever. 

Help?  Sure it helps, if you're getting a better product under what you feel are better conditions.  Is it going to save the world?  Of course not, but what kind of idiot thinks they're going to save the world through their dietary choices? 

Saw the movie "Food Inc." a few weeks ago, and quite liked it.  If all of the people in this country who are opposed to government subsidies to farmers for corn and other products could actually get together, regardless of their other political inclinations, we might actually manage to get something done. 

[Alex Libman 15]

The organic food one was better than most.  The taste tests were great, and the "last supper" narrative was brilliant!

I didn't get to the taxes one yet, downloading it now and will watch tonight.  Can't wait.  


The episode description on WP reads:

Penn & Teller show us our nation's tax system is complex and unfair. The guys visit the halls of Congress in search of a legislator willing to discuss America's tax system.

[Alex Libman 15]

So, what does everyone think about the taxes episode?

It seems like they were pushing for one of those "simple" flat / "fair" tax schemes, that's all... 


And there's a new one: S07E09, stress.

(EDIT: the low-res version of the Stress episode plays better on old hardware.)

[Andy]

So, what does everyone think about the taxes episode?

It seems like they were pushing for one of those "simple" flat / "fair" tax schemes, that's all... 

And there's a new one: S07E09, stress.

I wouldn't be so sure. I wouldn't expect them to come out and say 'taxes are stealing' that's not really what the show is about. (Too moralising?) I'd guess something along the lines of how ridiculously complicated they are.

[Vivo Pro Libertas]

I quite liked the episode on lawns. It was pretty funny.

And that poor dude that went to jail for not having a green lawn was pretty sad. All in all a good episode imho.

[Harry Tuttle]

I quite liked the episode on lawns. It was pretty funny.

And that poor dude that went to jail for not having a green lawn was pretty sad. All in all a good episode imho.

Agreed. I'm asking myself what kind of people would enforce a penalty upon their neighbor, knowing that he is doing his best and having trouble. The answer, of course, is people who have subordinated their humanity to a set of rules.

I saw a memo from my homeowner's association the other day talking about some new rules they want to impose regarding upkeep of garden areas visible from the front of properties. My entire community is VERY clean and nice. I would think that the occasional friendly chat would take care of most issues. Sadly, there are some people who would rather resort to a universal rule than to have a friendly conversation about some perceived problem.

[Alex Libman 15]

..... aaand the Vatican episode concludes the season.

[Laetitia]

So, what does everyone think about the taxes episode?

It seems like they were pushing for one of those "simple" flat / "fair" tax schemes, that's all... 

I just saw the Taxes episode this afternoon. I thought it was quite good.
Didn't think they were endorsing one alternative plan over another, other than as "anything is better than this BS".

The point they kept coming back to with the Boston re-enactment was wonderful. The colonials had the balls to stand up against the Crown over relatively small taxes, when they had no voice in government, were separated by an ocean, and they were surrounded by "peace keeping" armed forces. Today, the typical american responds with the "we can't do anything about it", and won't even take advantage of the many modern conveniences to communicate with the representatives we (or our neighbors) voted for.

[Alex Libman 15]

Why I keep visiting ConspiracyCentral.net is gems like this:

[youtube=425,350]Qt4kMxTPjXA[/youtube]

[Rillion]

Why I keep visiting ConspiracyCentral.net is gems like this:

Umm, what about it?