03 January 2010

all this hubbub about terrorists

leaving the house is a risk. getting in a car is a bigger risk. riding a bike in los angeles is one of the greatest risks known to man. getting on a plane, not so much. the inconvenience of travel because of the great fear of the masses (most of which don't even get on planes) is one of the greatest banes of my existence.

a little perspective:

since 9/11, the odds of being on a plane with a terrorist incident have been 1 in 10,408,947. contrast that to the odds of being struck by lightening in any given year at about 1 in 500,000. this means that you could board 20 flights per year and still be less likely to encounter a terrorist than to be struck by lightening*.

so please, i beg of you. stop being such whiney little bitches and ruining my travel plans. cuz, ya know what? even if you're not willing, i accept the miniscule risk. with great delight. and no small sense of contempt (for you and the terrorists you let win with every whimper of your feeble souls).

~k

*thanks to nate silver for the math, the analogy, and the poignant illustration of the assinine pussery of "real americans".