The many questions-not-worth-their-own-thread question thread XXI

[shadowplay]

Any Americans heard of a "Christmas pickle"?

 

[Synobun]

Let's say a baby has a 1 in 40, 000 chance of being born with Condition X.

A baby also has a <9% chance of being born with Condition Y.

Let's assume that world population is five hundred billion (500, 000, 000, 000).

What is the probability of a baby having BOTH conditions X and Y?

 

[Borachio]

Assuming the two conditions are completely unrelated, multiply the two chances together.
So (< 1 in 10) times (1 in 40,000) gives < 1 in 400,000.

The total population is irrelevant to the calculation of the probability. But it would give the likely total number of babies in the world with both conditions.

In this case something under 1,000,000.

 

[madviking]

Yea, what Borachio said is correct iff the conditions are independent.

 

[Synobun]

Thanks. Didn't know if number of people had anything to do with it.

I'm planning on making 2013 the "best first year of my life ever". I've already made plans to change my name, I'm moving, I'm going to college, but I want to a few personal projects as well. Something along the lines of the common bucket list item where people read 365 books in 365 days.

Does anyone have anything they've done in the past or are planning on doing that takes about a year to complete in terms of commitment? Something that can be done in less than an hour a day?

I was thinking of maybe writing a novel for 2013 but I'm open for any other suggestions that could be worthy of a commitment.

(Before someone suggests volunteer work, I'm already doing that and will be doing more volunteer work upon moving)

Thanks!

 

[cardgame]

What about learning a new skill?

 

[Synobun]

What about learning a new skill?

I'll be learning a lot of new skills simply by doing what I'm doing, but I'm open for specific ideas!

 

[Cutlass]

Learn to play an instrument?

 

[Synobun]

Learn to play an instrument?

Financially not capable, unless I find an instrument in a thrift store for a really good deal. If I do, any recommendations?

 

[Kennigit]

you can learn keyboard really cheap, which could be extended to playing the piano (not cheap)

 

[W|M]

Climb a mountain?

 

[Cutlass]

Financially not capable, unless I find an instrument in a thrift store for a really good deal. If I do, any recommendations?

Pawn shops or thrift stores may have an acoustic guitar. And that probably wouldn't cost too much. Then you can get a book or an online tutorial. It's one of the most common instruments people learn, so it's likely not the hardest.

 

[Cutlass]

$30-40 gets a cheap new acoustic on Amazon.

 

[Synobun]

Thanks for the suggestions. Not too sure I have the reflexes for guitar playing but if it's particularly cheap I may try it just for the sake of trying.

$30-40 for a new acoustic, though? I remember looking at guitars back in middle school and the cheapest was $120 in the guitar store. How times change, I guess.

 

[Cutlass]

I'm sure they aren't all that great for that price. But who knows, it may be from Thailand or something. Maybe you won't be great at it. And maybe it's not a great instrument. But you want to try something, so that's an option.

 

[Farm Boy]

Any Americans heard of a "Christmas pickle"?

Yep, we have one of those. Grand fun!

 

[Zelig]

Changing your name will take a while, don't plan on getting it all done in any less than four months.

 

[Synobun]

Changing your name will take a while, don't plan on getting it all done in any less than four months.

*shrugs* Irrelevant to me how long it takes. Unofficially changing it Feburary 1st and then officially changing it the moment I'm capable of not worrying about eating food every week.

 

[Zelig]

Yeah, was just a friendly warning, I changed mine a couple years ago in Canada so I know how the process works.

 

[Synobun]

Yeah, was just a friendly warning, I changed mine a couple years ago in Canada so I know how the process works.

Anything specific I should know besides how long it takes?