h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Actually, I take it back--the hard boiled egg one wasn't funny. I think I was just thinking of it 'cause it was referenced in one of the books... http://www.ayearofslowcooking.com/2005/12/flops.html for the flops

I suppose this would be the ideal week to get the last item on my list - a jackpot-winning lottery ticket. I wasn't expecting $1 billion plus though

I never buy lotto tickets, but the payoff is now well above the odds against winning. It's still like throwing $2 into the trash, but what the hell?

I did specify a *winning* ticket Just a ticket isn't what I'm looking for.

I used to buy one ticket each week for the UK lottery. If I felt a bit flush I might buy two. I probably could have afforded more at the time, but gambling is something that's never attracted me. However, although the odds are millions to one, someone *does* win either the jackpot or the lesser amounts, so for me, the argument that the odds are so long that you're unlikely to win anything more than a tenner wasn't strong enough to outweigh the opposite argument that for the price of three Mars Bars once a week I might win big. Because it's an undeniable fact that someone does, and they had exactly the same chance as me.

I'd have to go to another state to buy one though, if I did. In Texas you can't stay anonymous if you win

That's no excuse. With a BILLION dollars you can buy a new identity.

And I just saw this via my twotter feed. http://youtu.be/9PK-netuhHA


On the point about how lottery money supposedly funds schools, Texas is a great example of what B.S. that is.

When we voted for the lottery in this state, they were more than happy to let the idea spread that lottery earnings would fund schools, but they didn't even propose that. They simply didn't deny the rumor. But Texas lottery money goes into the general fund. So, technically they weren't lying, some small sliver of it would go to schools.

But since the lottery has been enacted in Texas, republican legislatures and administrations have been eviscerating school funding. Texas now ranks 45th in school funding, 49th in per student funding.
http://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/education/2016/01/10/texas-falls-43-national-education-ranking/78519596/

Basically, as lottery earnings rise for state budgets, corporate taxes have been cut.

That's unfortunate. I think lottery funds, at least partially, the A Plus program in Missouri, which pays for two years of community college in full if students meet criteria. And it's not just for the best and brightest, if I remember correctly they only have to maintain a GPA of 2.5, and there are some tutoring and other requirements. Would have been wonderful if broe jr had given a damn about grades.

And if I win the lotto, Gosho, I'll buy you a nice, basic slow cooker.

My resolution was mostly successful last year, it was to stay away from McDonalds (I have a 10-y-o, mind). I found myself in the drive through twice in the whole year, both times for coffee.

The year before was far more successful, I swore off Walmart. I haven't been to one in over two years. This year my goal is to try a new (to me) local restaurant once a month. So twelve small, local businesses.

Now those are some reasonable resolutions.

Well,


The 5 pieces of worthless paper I bought this morning are slightly more worthless. I specifically told the clerk that I didn't want the cash option, so he only heard the words "cash option".

I'll be VERY pissed if I win now.

You'll have to explain that one to me. Also, do you get to choose your numbers or does the machine do that for you?

You can fill out a card to scan with the numbers you choose, or you can ask for a "quick pick" and the machine will randomly choose for you. Statistics suggest you have a microscopically better chance with the quick pick.

You can choose your own numbers by filling out a "scan-tron" sheet (filling in dots with pencil). I just got "quick picks" and let the machine pick my numbers.


The "Cash Value Option" gives you a lesser jackpot in one lump sum. In this case it's an estimated value of $929,900,000 rather than $1.5 billion. So I just "lost" a potential half billion plus.

You don't have a better chance at the jackpot with quick picks. Any combination of numbers has exactly the same odds. But a quick pick will give you more "random" numbers. People tend to pick the same type of numbers, birthdays for example, so those type of numbers tend to split the pot more often.


I just didn't care since I know that any combo is exactly as likely as any other so there's no point in picking "lucky" numbers.

Ah, so the same as the UK lottery then. What's this 'cash option' thing all about?

I think it's also worth pointing out to anyone who's not from here that you have to pay tax on your lottery winnings in the US, whereas you get the lot in the UK, so even if you're the sole winner this week you won't become a billionaire, I think, whereas the people who just won £33,000,000 in the UK will get the lot. How much is the tax on lottery winnings?

I explained the Cash Option in a above.


The income tax is nearly 40%, but I think there may be another tax that hits it as well. Searching...

Yep. The IRS takes a further 25% to 28% withholding on gambling. http://www.irs.gov/instructions/iw2g/ar02.html#d0e173


More info in this article: http://www.wired.com/2016/01/the-fascinating-math-behind-why-you-wont-win-powerball/

At my time of life I'd go for the cash option since I'm unlikely to outlast the instalments (which I believe are 30 years). Which makes me wonder, if you should die before they run out, what happens to the balance? Can you will it to someone, or to a charity?

What are multipliers?

That Wired piece may be accurate and down-to-earth, but it's also what I might call 'letting daylight in upon magic'