Journalism and Arithmetic

A couple of weeks ago I was watching local news, and there was a story about someone in the area who had necrotizing fasciitis. Silly weekend reporter told us how the disease has a 40% mortality rate but this man beat the odds. the way I figure it, 40% mortality means 60% survival, or 3:2 odds of survival. If this is true, someone who beats the odds would be dead. If you want to try explaining this to the talking head, her name is Erin Koskovich, and she can be reached at ekoskovich@nbc15.com.

Last weekend I was listening to 60 Minutes while cooking. There was a report on proposed legislation to require some fast food restaurants to post the nutrition information on the menu board. Leslie Stahl went on at some length about how even that won't stop people from eating more than they expect. Her example, the posted calorie info at Subway is for a 6" sub and she wants a footlong, so she has to double it IN HER HEAD!!!! I'm torn between being insulted that she thinks I can't do second grade arithmetic and being amused that she apparently can't.