Numeracy. Learn it, love it.

Going from $1 million to $2 million is not a 200% increase. It is a 100% increase. It is 200% of the original. A 200% increase would be $3 million.

Similarly, if you go from 100 to 20 that is not a 400% decrease. Just because going from 20 to 100 is a 400% increase does not mean the same number applies in the other direction.

Finally, if you tell me that something decreased by more than 100% and you aren't talking about a negative number. Then please go slam your head in your car door until your legs stop kicking because I'm not going to take your results seriously.

Official Hyperbole. Know it. Avoid it.

400 gun shot wounds in two years among 80,000 black males between 18 and 25 is not "genocide." Especially when it is mostly those black males between 18 and 25 shooting each other. At best it is some kind of ethno-suicide.

...and that's always a good thing.

Really? I've been suffering needlessly this spring? I'd better make an appointment with my doc. I couldn't even get a prescription to pay for Allegra myself when it was name brand-only; it just wasn't available at all from my health plan. I should see if it's available now!

Quoting for emphasis.

Colleges should drop their stupid minimal math graduation requirements in favor of a basic stats requirement. Basic stats is a life skill.

I don't know about most universities but when I was at the University of Washington, the first couple stats courses could be counted towards the math requirement and since the lowest math course you could take for credit was calculus that is what most people I know did.

They put Hot Tamales in the vending machine at work. :)

In my latest paper for a communications class (the one I asked the "Black or African American" question over) I found basic errors, like the ones you cited, made by my classmates when they were talking of increases and decreases of things. In a way, I'm glad I wrote a less research-intensive portion of the paper, since it allowed me to spend the time finding their errors and fixing them.

On a much more funny note, this picture amused me. Wish I'd seen it for Easter.

My brain is melting!!!!!!!!

But then I'd have no chance at a degree...


Oh wait.

You have no idea how fitting your post really is...

Kevy, I know you've wondered how you could top your tooth fairy costume next Halloween. Well, here's a suggestion: