What’s the probability of being struck by lightning?
Te National Weather Service reported that lightning hits an average of 280 people in the U.S. each year. With a current popu- lation of over 310 million, that puts the odds of being struck in any given year at around one in 1.1 million. Only about 10% of these strikes are fatalities, leaving the other 90% of the victims with a range of injuries and disabilities. Some immedi- ate symptoms include dizziness, nausea, short-term memory and other concussion-like symptoms. Delayed symptoms, like personality changes and convulsions, can also occur. So if you have a friend who is showing signs of forgetfulness, seizure-like activity or vomiting, they may have unknowingly been struck by lightning, make sure that they see a doctor immediately.
What are the chances of winning the lottery?
Feel like gambling? You may want to reconsider once you read these figures. Te probability of winning the Georgia lottery jackpot is one in over 175 million. Tat’s way less than one percent. To win $250,000, the chances are slightly greater at one in 3.9 million, and one in 689,065 to win $10,000. Your chances of winning even just $2 are still less than 1%. Seeing as participants must be 18 to play, all you underclassmen have no chance of winning anything at all, so don’t get your hopes up.
What’s the chance of getting bitten by a shark? Losing a limb or a chunk of flesh to one of those grey-finned
creatures less common than many think According to the Florida Museum of Natural History, there are between 50 and 70 shark attacks each year. While that may still seem intimidating, rest assured that last year there were fewer shark attack fatalities (two) than deaths from dog attacks (33). It is also more common to be bit by a fellow human than a shark in
the United States. Even so, more shark attacks occur annually in the South than alligator attacks. But hey, would you rather fight an alligator or a shark?
What’s the likelihood of picking a dream career? Right now, you are absolutely certain that you want to be a
doctor, actress, hand model, etc. In a few years, you might choose to pursue a career as a garbage bin archivist, palm-reader, ice cream taster or lipsologist. Te fact is that nearly 60 percent of students change their major at some point during their undergraduate experience, according to the Northwest Edu- cation Loan Association. Some reconsider two, three or even more times before they make a final decision. So really, there’s not a direct answer to this question. What you may consider to be your profession of choice now (stunt man) may not compare to your dream career in two or three years (bat cave scavenger).
Illustrations by Amelia Thomas DECEMBER 2011 • CARPE DIEM 27
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