I’m not a scientist and I only received average grades in science at school, but a few things did stick. For instance, Carl Sagan was cool for a science dude and “Occam’s Razor” sounds wicked and is pretty useful.  To summarize Occam was another dude, who said that the simplest answer is often correct.  Crazy complex stories don’t hold up well, while using Occam’s Razor, and yesterday, I got to use it next to the fork and spoon at the dinner table.

5-year-old Ben: “When I was outside, Jacob (his 10-year-old brother) threw a tennis ball at me.”

Older brother Jacob: “Yeah, when Ben walked outside, he happened to walk right in front of where I was throwing the ball.”

Competing hypotheses: 1) Jacob threw the ball at Ben…  2) Ben happened to walk outside into the direct path of a tennis ball.  Let’s consult “Occam’s Razor.”  The winner:  Big brother threw a ball at little brother.

Later in the meal, I detailed how I found Kirby the Beagle eating candy on the floor of Jacob’s room.

Jacob: “The candy was getting sticky in the cupboard, so I needed to move it up to my room.”

Grab the razor. Competing hypotheses:  1) Candy was relocated, because it was getting sticky…  2) Jacob likes to eat candy in his room at night.”  The winner:  Fibbing boy with a sweet tooth.

Now, please pass a baked potato and a knife, because Occam’s Razor ain’t good at cuttin’ food.