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Thread: $200 Million Too Much? Sure Is!

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    The Ceej's Avatar
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    Default $200 Million Too Much? Sure Is!

    Now that the Powerball payoff is bigger than the odds, anyone who lives in or near a Powerball state would be stupid not to play.

    How do I figure? Well, in the Powerball, you choose five numbers from one to 55, and then a sixth Powerball number from one to 55 which is drawn from a different pot and, therefore, can be a repeat of one of the first five.

    The odds of drawing the correct five original numbers and the correct Powerball number are (55*55*54*53*52*51)/5/4/3/2:1 or:

    191,331,855:1.

    Compare that to the payoff of $200,000,000.

    (Yes, I know that after taxes, it becomes below the odds. So sue me.)

    Okay, odds aside, the topic of this post is learning from previous lottery winners' mistakes. What do you do if you win?

    First: Don't quit your job unless you absolutely hate it. And even if you do, make sure you get another job later. One you like.

    Second: Call you job and tell them you're going on an indefinite leave of absence effective immediately. This is because you're going on vacation. This is your "me time." Take friends and family with you if you so desire. A private jet is fine. It's the only way to go long distances.

    Third: When you get back from your vacation, or perhaps before you go, pay off your debts. Why do you need debts? You have $200 million.

    Fourth: Give everyone you know $10,000. Why ten thousand? Because that's the most you can give them, in the US of course, without their having to pay taxes on it. $200 million is too much for you. You might as well share. Give some to some charities too, if you so desire. Just make sure they're reputable and your money is going to good use.

    Fifth: Buy a sensible house and car. Not more than you need. Sure, you have $200 million, but that's no reason to splurge. Just buy what you need. You don't want to end up bankrupt a year from now like all of those other lottery winners.

    Sixth: You probably have a lot remaining. Yeah. Well, this is the fun part. You get to make a difference with this money. Use this money to do something for society. Use it to make a movie or start a band. Use it to start a business that will benefit your area. You know. Whatever you like and benefits society. You can use it as leverage for that important dream job. Personally, I haven't decided yet, but I'm leaning towards making a movie which is why I mentioned it first.

    And one more thing: Won't it be fun when you go to the bank with your check, to bring a briefcase with you and fill it with twenties? You're putting the rest in your accounts anyway, so what the hell? That would be a great prop for entertainment, leverage, and just all around anything. Imagine this scenario:

    "I want to purchase -insert game here-"

    "I'm sorry. That game doesn't come out till next week."

    "Your boss said I can buy it today."

    "My boss? You know my boss?"

    "Sure, I know your boss. Who is he again?"

    "Oh, I'm just in it for the money."

    "Oh, really?" Then you put the briefcase on the counter and open it up.

    _____________________________

    Another great line would be this, "Andrew Jackson was known for getting what he wanted regardless of what the law said."

    But anyway. Topic is the Powerball and the lottery in general. I guess if you want to get specific:

    1. Powerball payoff being above the odds.

    2. What you think of my lottery plan?

    3. Lottery ideas of your own. What would you do?
    Last edited by The Ceej; 09-26-2008 at 12:58 AM.


  2. #2

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    I would not play the lottery.

  3. #3
    Recognized Member erikramza's Avatar
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    I would not play the lottery.

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    Quack Shlup's Avatar
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    I would not, could not in a tree.
    Not in a car! You let me be!

  5. #5

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    I don't see why I wouldn't quit my job if I won $200M. I'd use the money to study something I really love, not having to worry if there's a job for me after it. I wouldn't really go around spending it all though, I'm content with every single thing I have and wouldn't want more, it'd just be used as an extremely large saftey net. Hmm, maybe just spend a few years traveling the world too. But that's it, honest.



    "... and so I close, realizing that perhaps the ending has not yet been written."


  6. #6
    The Ceej's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Remulak View Post
    I would not play the lottery.
    Quote Originally Posted by erikramza View Post
    I would not play the lottery.
    Quote Originally Posted by ShlupQuack View Post
    I would not, could not in a tree.
    Not in a car! You let me be!
    Here I was thinking all of you were the same person.

    Seriously, the payoff is above the odds. Is that not enough incentive? What if someone gave you 3:2 odds for the outcome of flipping a coin?


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    Recognized Member erikramza's Avatar
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    i've been to the casino enough to know that no odd, no matter how amazing it may sound, is never on your side.... concerning gambling.

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    The Ceej's Avatar
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    Is that why I never stand up from a Roulette table with less than I sat down with?

    I never said the odds were on your side. I said the payoff is above the odds.

    If you're playing $1 against $200,000,000 and your odds are 191,331,855:1, you're doing the right thing.

    Seriously, in this scenario, what the hell's a dollar? It can't even get you a half a gallon of gas anymore.


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    Recognized Member erikramza's Avatar
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    a dollar is a fortune to a homeless man.

    instead of getting a ticket, buy a water bottle for a dollar and give it to a bum. that will be your charity.

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    The Anti Mosher Balzac's Avatar
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    The lottery is tax free here.
    You hold my heart in your manly hands I wanna feel the throb of your handsome gland. I wanna hold you tight like a newborn kitten, against my flesh like a cashmere mitten. Tickly tick, I'm makin' skin bump heaven and all the way down it's lookin' cleanly shaven. Prickety pricks, it's stubble on stubble I better slow down or I'm in real trouble. Want you, touch you, feel you, taste you! Knick knack whacky whack 'till I see the man stew. spin you around let me see that hole! I'm a tunnelin' in a like a short hair mole. Once I'm inside I'm gonna leave a trace, half in there and half on that face! One finger, two finger, there fingers gone! Mano a mano I love you John!

  11. #11

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    Quote Originally Posted by erikramza View Post
    a dollar is a fortune to a homeless man.

    instead of getting a ticket, buy a water bottle for a dollar and give it to a bum. that will be your charity.
    I don't know about America, but a single dollar ain't even going to get you bottled water here. Honestly, you're argueing against something so trivial. It's just a dollar, that's it, no skullskullskullskullskullskullskullskull about homeless people.


    "... and so I close, realizing that perhaps the ending has not yet been written."


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    Recognized Member erikramza's Avatar
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    ok. let's say not even all the people who play, half of the people who play the lottery gave that one dollar, to one man who needs it, instead of pursuing their greed.
    still trivial?

    my point is, a dollar can be used for more than fueling dreams of grandeur.

  13. #13
    Mold Anus Old Manus's Avatar
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    The national lottery in the UK has odds of around 14million to 1 for the jackpot, iirc. Does this mean I'll auto-win next time I buy a ticket?


    there was a picture here

  14. #14

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    Quote Originally Posted by erikramza View Post
    ok. let's say not even all the people who play, half of the people who play the lottery gave that one dollar, to one man who needs it, instead of pursuing their greed.
    still trivial?

    my point is, a dollar can be used for more than fueling dreams of grandeur.
    I never said poverty or the such is trivial, I think bringing it up in this thread is trivial. But yes, I'd rather put a dollar towards gaining more dollars than handing it to some bum on the street who'll just go buy booze.


    "... and so I close, realizing that perhaps the ending has not yet been written."


  15. #15
    Recognized Member erikramza's Avatar
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    hence the reason i said, 'buy a water bottle'.

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