The word to be discussed today has a very strict usage in science. To understand its misuse, we have to explore how science works at a very basic level. We will do that, with applications to everyday problems, and show how a fact-based (as opposed to faith-based) belief system helps us focus our decisions. We will then explore some of the ways this scientific word is misused in the media and in our decision-making. lt;brgt;lt;brgt; Dennis Owsley holds a Ph.D. in organic chemistry and is a retired Monsanto Senior Science Fellow and college teacher. His other career is in radio. He has broadcast a weekly jazz show (currently running as "Jazz Unlimited" on Sundays from 9 p.m. 'til midnight) for St. Louis Public Radio (KWMU—90.7 FM) since April 1983, for which he has won numerous accolades. He has combined his love of both photography and jazz to become a prominent photographer of jazz musicians, and his photos have been exhibited and published in galleries, history books, music textbooks, on websites and several CD covers.