Monday Stats

Off-topic alert. Received some literature from the Florida Aquarium in Tampa this morning. Said one headline: "Chances of being involved in a shark attack are one in 12 million." Would like to know what in Millo's name this statistic means. Could it be (a) one shark attack per 12 million Americans per year, (b) one shark attack per 12 million humans per year, (c) one shark attack per 12 million Floridians per year, (d) one shark attack per 12 million beachgoers per year, (e) one shark attack per 12 million visits to the beach per year, (f) one shark attack per 12 million instances of humans going in the water per year. Critical distinctions, because Sieglinde will not be counted among the 12 million in (a), once in (b) and (d), a half in (c), maybe 100 in (e), and maybe 200 in (f). Stat-wise, that's a factor of infinity (from zero to finite probability), and in the confusion of the murky waters of the gulf at dusk, Sieglinde needs to be armed with the most accurate odds.