Buying the occasional lottery ticket while understanding the astronomical odds is one thing. Thinking that getting 25 increases your odds makes you their target audience.
I once got 25 scratch offs as a Christmas gift. After scratching them all and not winning a thing, I subtly told the giver that this could’ve been a gift certificate at a book store. Ok, it wasn’t so subtle. Two other people who received 25 scratch offs also did not win anything.
The lottery is a tax on people who are poor at statistics. That said, and knowing my stats, I was still in for two tickets for the billion dollars. My state’s education fund appreciated my donation, I’m sure. I just wish our state taught math better.
I majored in math and have won multiple scratch off lottery tickets (while not buying that many). I think my awesome math skills cowed the tickets into submission. Or I’m just lucky.
I learned at the race track that you should always leave when you have won 10% of your capital. And no choosing horse with names you like or consider lucky. Also never go on holidays. And if you go every weekday, patiently using this system, you will eventually win your hearts desire, or at least enough money to buy a Shih-Tzu!
Which I did, and named him Mr Fantini, after the jockey. 🐎
Back in the day before the lottery became a national thing there was a magazine contest called the Publisher’s Clearing House. I was young and had stars in my eyes about hitting it big. You could win millions or take installments for life like you can now in the lottery. You didn’t have to purchase anything, you were allowed to enter for free. Again, I was a starry eyed young woman who did not have the money for multiple magazine subscriptions so I always entered for free. I actually became a winner, not a top winner but still a winner. I received a check in the amount of $5.00 from Publishers Clearing House. For years I carried that check in my wallet to prove to folks you could be a sweepstakes winner…LOL.
Winning anything in a sweepstakes is worth celebrating. All I ever win is spam. If sweepstakes have proven anything, it’s that companies want our contact information.
I resolved to do a January challenge doing yoga, and another reading every day. I've adhered to those goals religiously- it's preferable to paying too much attention to the news at this point. But hey, my body and brain will be moderately exercised!
When I turned 18 in the 1960s, my birthday was entered into the draft lottery. I was thus declared ineligible, and having won my life I decided then and there to never enter another lottery ever again!
Years ago I worked in retail. Managers told me there was only two weeks in the year when there wasn’t a sale on! And the stock room … you had to be a dwarf with double length arms to work in there because of all the pipes hanging down off the ceiling.
Thank you for the smiles; I‘ve never smoked, I‘ve never worked as a sales person anywhere, but I DO appreciate all the hard work they do to serve us customers. I‘m always friendly and say thank you. It‘s a basic human right to be treated kindly. I wish you well.
I learned at the racetrack one summer that you have to be strong, and leave every day after you’ve won 10% of your capital. And no betting on horses names or ones you think will be lucky. Don’t go on holidays or weekends. But if you go every weekday, and be patient, eventually you will eventually win enough to get your hearts desire. Or a shih-tzu puppy! Which I did, and named him after the jockey, Mr Fantini. 🐎
True story! He was a real guy…. I just found his obit. Mr. Fantini was born in Worcester County, Mass., the son of the late Ralph and Ida Parent Fantini. Mr. Fantini "the Streak" or "the Phantom" as he was known at Garden State Park, Cherry Hill, N.J., and was Lead Thoroughbred Jockey for 1973 and 1974. We used to scream “MR FANTINI!” as he came around the bend! And I swore if I won that race, I’d name my new dog after him. ♥️
Nor do I! But I couldn’t have even thought of looking him up if I hadn’t just told you that story. We were all crazy youngsters then, put all our money together in one pile for each race and divide it after! Good times.
For a while, by which I mean years, I covered vacations (I worked at a hospital). I worked every holiday as you might suspect and only got a reprieve when I threatened to quit. I was surprised too.
I think they’re waiting for the pushback before giving the reprieve. No pushback means pushover. Then I think I’m giving them too much credit. They probably didn’t pay that much attention to the fact that they were ruining every holiday for the same staff member.
I was told bluntly that it was my job to cover and that was that. Years later that individual came back (she had left to move to Texas) and was shocked, shocked that I held her in contempt for favoring others. It is why I don't miss work. On the plus side, most of coworkers agreed with me.
I do buy lottery tickets when the jackpot gets up to a jillion dollars, even though the odds remain exactly the same. The smaller cash prizes that you get for things like having all five non-powerball numbers or having four numbers plus the powerball, also get bigger, but have slightly better odds.
Buying the occasional lottery ticket while understanding the astronomical odds is one thing. Thinking that getting 25 increases your odds makes you their target audience.
I once got 25 scratch offs as a Christmas gift. After scratching them all and not winning a thing, I subtly told the giver that this could’ve been a gift certificate at a book store. Ok, it wasn’t so subtle. Two other people who received 25 scratch offs also did not win anything.
The lottery is a tax on people who are poor at statistics. That said, and knowing my stats, I was still in for two tickets for the billion dollars. My state’s education fund appreciated my donation, I’m sure. I just wish our state taught math better.
I wish all states taught math better, all….let’s see, 1,2,3….I think there’s 47 of them, so let’s round that off to 40.
I majored in math and have won multiple scratch off lottery tickets (while not buying that many). I think my awesome math skills cowed the tickets into submission. Or I’m just lucky.
Scratch off tickets wind up giving something that’s probably worthless which is how a lot of other gifts are so enjoy.
I learned at the race track that you should always leave when you have won 10% of your capital. And no choosing horse with names you like or consider lucky. Also never go on holidays. And if you go every weekday, patiently using this system, you will eventually win your hearts desire, or at least enough money to buy a Shih-Tzu!
Which I did, and named him Mr Fantini, after the jockey. 🐎
Based on the poll results, your readers get you.
Back in the day before the lottery became a national thing there was a magazine contest called the Publisher’s Clearing House. I was young and had stars in my eyes about hitting it big. You could win millions or take installments for life like you can now in the lottery. You didn’t have to purchase anything, you were allowed to enter for free. Again, I was a starry eyed young woman who did not have the money for multiple magazine subscriptions so I always entered for free. I actually became a winner, not a top winner but still a winner. I received a check in the amount of $5.00 from Publishers Clearing House. For years I carried that check in my wallet to prove to folks you could be a sweepstakes winner…LOL.
Winning anything in a sweepstakes is worth celebrating. All I ever win is spam. If sweepstakes have proven anything, it’s that companies want our contact information.
I resolved to do a January challenge doing yoga, and another reading every day. I've adhered to those goals religiously- it's preferable to paying too much attention to the news at this point. But hey, my body and brain will be moderately exercised!
Honestly, that’s an excellent goal. You might be one of the few sane people left by the end of the year.
I've already gone round the bend, I'm just trying to claw myself back. :D
When I turned 18 in the 1960s, my birthday was entered into the draft lottery. I was thus declared ineligible, and having won my life I decided then and there to never enter another lottery ever again!
Quit while you’re ahead. Good strategy.
Years ago I worked in retail. Managers told me there was only two weeks in the year when there wasn’t a sale on! And the stock room … you had to be a dwarf with double length arms to work in there because of all the pipes hanging down off the ceiling.
Thank you for the smiles; I‘ve never smoked, I‘ve never worked as a sales person anywhere, but I DO appreciate all the hard work they do to serve us customers. I‘m always friendly and say thank you. It‘s a basic human right to be treated kindly. I wish you well.
Heading into the store I was gagging because one person in the parking lot was smoking, in their car.
The dedicated clerk had ridden her e-bike to work in the January downpour.
You may have parked near Cheech and Chong.
I learned at the racetrack one summer that you have to be strong, and leave every day after you’ve won 10% of your capital. And no betting on horses names or ones you think will be lucky. Don’t go on holidays or weekends. But if you go every weekday, and be patient, eventually you will eventually win enough to get your hearts desire. Or a shih-tzu puppy! Which I did, and named him after the jockey, Mr Fantini. 🐎
That’s a fantastic name!
True story! He was a real guy…. I just found his obit. Mr. Fantini was born in Worcester County, Mass., the son of the late Ralph and Ida Parent Fantini. Mr. Fantini "the Streak" or "the Phantom" as he was known at Garden State Park, Cherry Hill, N.J., and was Lead Thoroughbred Jockey for 1973 and 1974. We used to scream “MR FANTINI!” as he came around the bend! And I swore if I won that race, I’d name my new dog after him. ♥️
That is awesome! And I don’t even use the word awesome.
Nor do I! But I couldn’t have even thought of looking him up if I hadn’t just told you that story. We were all crazy youngsters then, put all our money together in one pile for each race and divide it after! Good times.
It sounds like it. I had a cat named Mr. Thompson who appears occasionally in the strip, but Mr. Fantini sounds more legendary.
For a while, by which I mean years, I covered vacations (I worked at a hospital). I worked every holiday as you might suspect and only got a reprieve when I threatened to quit. I was surprised too.
I think they’re waiting for the pushback before giving the reprieve. No pushback means pushover. Then I think I’m giving them too much credit. They probably didn’t pay that much attention to the fact that they were ruining every holiday for the same staff member.
I was told bluntly that it was my job to cover and that was that. Years later that individual came back (she had left to move to Texas) and was shocked, shocked that I held her in contempt for favoring others. It is why I don't miss work. On the plus side, most of coworkers agreed with me.
Coworkers are the reason to keep certain jobs.
I think my favorite part of your work is the subtext signs that I have to zoom in to read.
Those are always an afterthought and I’ll never stop being surprised at how much people enjoy those. Thank you!
State lotteries are a tax on innumeracy.
Love the signs, as always. When a dutiful employee thanks me for my patience, I wonder aloud why they thought I had any. And smile, of course.
I do buy lottery tickets when the jackpot gets up to a jillion dollars, even though the odds remain exactly the same. The smaller cash prizes that you get for things like having all five non-powerball numbers or having four numbers plus the powerball, also get bigger, but have slightly better odds.
This may be about retail, but the sentiments apply to all workplaces, especially the ones about the shortfalls of corporate.
Thank you. I like to think so.
Drawing that lottery ticket woman looking like a meth addict is disturbingly accurate.