Rome, Greggs & Flat Earth08 April 2019

Catch Up 102 - Rome, Greggs & Flat Earth - #062

0Frameworks

7Insights

Insights & moments

The myth-busts, hot takes, explainers, and tools worth keeping.

Myth Buster· 2

Myth Buster02:30

Why Jaffa Cakes Avoid VAT: The Biscuit vs Cake Legal Battle

In the UK, VAT is charged on biscuits but not on cakes, which led to a famous legal classification battle over Jaffa Cakes. The distinction was determined by texture: biscuits go soft over time, while cakes go hard. Jaffa Cakes were legally classified as cakes because they harden, allowing them to avoid VAT.

Biscuits are taxed in the UK; cakes are not.
Jaffa Cakes were subject to a 'biscuit cake test' based on texture change over time.
They were ruled as cakes because they go hard, not soft, avoiding VAT.

“They were subject to the biscuit cake test which was the biscuits go soft when left today were still hot what do they do they…”
Guest · 03:00

#uk-law#food-science#tax-avoidance

Myth Buster30:00

Flat Earth Test Fails, Then Blames 'Heavenly Energies'

A flat Earth group conducted an experiment using a pinhole light test over 300 meters to prove the Earth was flat. When the results showed curvature, they dismissed it, claiming 'heavenly energies' bent the light. They spent $26,000 on a Gaussian chamber to repeat it—same result, same excuse.

Flat Earthers tested light curvature and observed Earth’s curve.
Dismissed results, blaming 'heavenly energies' and magnetic refraction.
Spent $26k on a Gaussian chamber; results unchanged.

“They tested it and it showed that the earth was curved... and then they were like oh no but that's just because there's heavenly energies…”
Guest · 30:30

#flat-earth#science#confirmation-bias

Hot Take· 1

Hot Take33:00

Alex Jones Claims Dogs Are Psychic Buffers Against AI

The guest describes Alex Jones’ bizarre worldview, including the claim that dogs act as 'psychic buffers' absorbing negative auras, and that 'greys' are artificial intelligences, not real aliens. His ability to weave complex, unhinged narratives makes him strangely compelling despite the absurdity.

Alex Jones claims dogs absorb auras and act as psychic buffers.
Believes 'greys' are AI constructs, not real extraterrestrials.
His narrative coherence makes him oddly persuasive despite insanity.

“Dogs can be psychic buffers they kind of take in auras a little bit like the aliens do.”
Guest · 33:30

#conspiracy-theories#alex-jones#ai

Explainer· 2

Explainer36:00

Big Pharma’s Overmedication of Children: A Psychiatrist’s View

A psychiatrist guest shares concerns about children being overdiagnosed and overmedicated with untested psychiatric drugs. One 10-year-old had five diagnoses and was on five medications, which is statistically implausible. The guest calls this practice abusive, especially since drugs aren’t tested on minors.

Children are being diagnosed with multiple psychiatric conditions.
One boy had five diagnoses and was on five untested drugs.
Psychiatrist calls the practice abusive due to lack of pediatric testing.

“A ten-year-old boy had five diagnoses... on five separate medications. My dad was like first of all statistically the likelihood of all of these conditions...…”
Guest · 37:00

#mental-health#big-pharma#children

Explainer62:30

How AlphaGo Zero Mastered Go Without Human Knowledge

AlphaGo Zero, an AI developed by DeepMind, taught itself to play Go from scratch with no human data. In just four days, it surpassed all previous versions, defeating AlphaGo 100 games to zero. This demonstrated that AI can achieve superhuman performance through self-play and reinforcement learning.

AlphaGo Zero started with no rules or human data.
Learned entirely through self-play in four days.
Beat original AlphaGo 100 games to zero.

“Alphago zero started from nothing and within four days had beaten the game.”
Guest · 63:00

#ai#deepmind#alphago

Story· 2

Story04:30

Brother’s Greggs Dilemma: Halal, Hunger, and Chocolate Eclairs

While trying to take his brother to the gym, the guest recounts how his brother, attempting to eat halal, struggled at Greggs due to limited options. After being denied several items, he settled for non-halal chocolate eclairs and toffee yums, highlighting the difficulty of dietary restrictions in fast-food settings.

Brother wanted halal food but Greggs had limited halal options.
Veg pastries and four-cheese pizza were unavailable.
Ended up eating chocolate eclairs despite dietary concerns.

“He was like okay can I have one of those veg retro thing there veg pastries and they were like oh I haven't got any…”
Guest · 05:30

#food#diet#halal

Story18:00

Spilling Espresso in Rome: A Café Catastrophe

While visiting Rome, the guest recounts a mortifying moment in a café where he spilled an espresso across the counter and onto sandwiches while distracted by the view of St. Peter’s Basilica. The barista’s horrified reaction exemplified 'Italian fury,' turning a simple coffee order into an unforgettable cultural moment.

Ordered espresso in Rome and was distracted by the view.
Spilled the entire drink onto sandwiches behind the counter.
Barista reacted with visible dismay, embodying 'Italian fury.'

“I have managed to get all of the espresso out and or matter the counter I just on top of the counter it's on some…”
Guest · 19:00

#travel#rome#humor