Michael,My husband and I have been laughing at the 50-50 concept and interjecting it in every situation we can think of. Thanks for sharing - it's fun little bits like this from TIPS that just make your day. Beth Benoit Granite State College Plymouth State University New Hampshire
On Mon, May 4, 2009 at 7:23 PM, Michael Britt < [email protected]> wrote: > There was a very funny sketch on the Daily Show last week that might make > for an interesting class conversation about the importance of understanding > data (particularly probability). Or perhaps the importance of thinking > things through a little more carefully. > > The skit is about the infamous particle accelerator being built in > Switzerland. John Oliver interviewed one of the physicists for the > accelerator who tells him about the very small chance that the world will > "blow up" as a result of the collisions in the accelerator. Oliver then > talks to science teacher Walter Wagner, who states that he thinks there's a > 50-50 chance that the world would blow up. Wagner's reasoning: it (the > world blowing up) will either happen or not happen - so it's a 50-50 chance! > He's filing a lawsuit to stop the accelerator. > > The skit is pretty funny, but typical of the Daily Show, has some mature > language as well. Here's the link: > > http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/index.jhtml?episodeId=225916 > > To see the relevant part of the video you'll have to click at the first > demarcation in the timeline (about 9 minutes in and unfortunately you'll > have to wait through 2 30-second commercials, but it's very funny and worth > the wait). > > My thought is that an interesting class discussion could be made by > applying this same kind of thinking to your chances of coming down with > swine flu. Do students think that like Mr. Wagner, since they can either > get swine flu or not get the swine flu that they have a 50-50 chance of > getting swine flu? > > > Michael Britt > [email protected] > www.thepsychfiles.com > > > > > > > > --- > To make changes to your subscription contact: > > Bill Southerly ([email protected]) > --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
