[edsheppa]

You are not being clear. What is the relationship you see between

"natural selection" ... is merely an arbitrary way of explaining what has already taken place

and

"predict[ing]" a find of cheeseburgers at a McDonald's Restaurant?

[Fester Chugabrew]

Both are post facto descriptions of an obvious nature. The presence of various species that adapt within limits has always been observed and may just as easily be "explained" by saying the various species were designed that way. The presence of many cheeseburgars at a McDonald's restaurant may be predicted just as easily as the presence of various species that adapt to their environments, yet within limits. "Natural selection" is the "goddiddit" for those who prefer to avoid notions of God. It has little, if any, scientific value but is not an unreasonable philosophy to adopt if one feels so inclined.