I don’t buy lottery tickets anymore because I never seem to win. But I still participate in the lottery. Here’s how:
I have a tendency to pick up discarded lottery tickets, in the hopes of finding a winning ticket someone has lost or thrown away. Within the last year, I found two unused scratch-off tickets, one of which, when scratched, was a winner, albeit for only three dollars.
Another found ticket had been purchased for $20 by someone and the ticket gave the purchaser ten chances to find a winning poker hand of Jacks or better. The better the hand, the higher the prize. Apparently the purchaser was looking for a full house or straight flush for a big payoff and overlooked line seven, which contained two Jacks. I collected five dollars on that one.
When I find an unscratched lottery ticket, and it turns out to be a non-winner, it causes me to reflect on the definition of luck. Was it unlucky for the purchaser to lose the ticket and was it lucky for me to find it? In both instances the ticket was a loser, so if there was any luck involved, it was not good luck.
Whether I find any more winning tickets or not, at least I’ll be content with knowing they cost me nothing. And I benefit from the exercise of bending down to pick them up.
I get the same exercise benefit from stooping to pick up a coin, plus the added satisfaction of having real money in my pocket.
Beats joining a health club.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Language
Language, specifically the improper use of language, has always been a pet peeve of mine. Each time I hear a commercial say something like, “over 4 out of 5 doctors recommend…,” when they really mean “more than 4 of 5,” I cringe.
So, too, when I see written phrases, like, “every single person…,” when they mean “each person,” not just the single ones, I silently shout, “Say what you really mean.”
For a long time, the signs at the supermarket checkout which read something like, “12 items or less,” when they mean “12 items or fewer,” bothered me. Then, one day, I was in a Publix supermarket in Florida and saw their sign, which read something like, “12 items or fewer.” I was so pleased I wanted to shout, “Right on,” or maybe even “Write on.” Each time I saw the sign, it was like an antidote for all the incorrect signs in the other stores.
Just recently, a Stop and Shop supermarket opened in my town. To my delight, their signs say “fewer” rather than “less than.” There may not be many of us who care, or even notice, but for me at least, it’s one less thing to be upset about. And as someone once said, it’s the little things that count.
I learned long ago that you can’t change the world overnight. But each little step in the right direction is progress.
So, too, when I see written phrases, like, “every single person…,” when they mean “each person,” not just the single ones, I silently shout, “Say what you really mean.”
For a long time, the signs at the supermarket checkout which read something like, “12 items or less,” when they mean “12 items or fewer,” bothered me. Then, one day, I was in a Publix supermarket in Florida and saw their sign, which read something like, “12 items or fewer.” I was so pleased I wanted to shout, “Right on,” or maybe even “Write on.” Each time I saw the sign, it was like an antidote for all the incorrect signs in the other stores.
Just recently, a Stop and Shop supermarket opened in my town. To my delight, their signs say “fewer” rather than “less than.” There may not be many of us who care, or even notice, but for me at least, it’s one less thing to be upset about. And as someone once said, it’s the little things that count.
I learned long ago that you can’t change the world overnight. But each little step in the right direction is progress.
Odds
As I was reading the sports pages at breakfast the other morning, I noticed something unusual. On the page which contained the “betting odds” for the week’s sporting events, there was a list of odds for the 2012 presidential nominations. The list was divided in two columns: one for the Democrats and one for the Republicans.
What struck me, beside the fact that these odds were being published, was that the 2008 presidential winner hadn’t even been sworn in yet. And the odds themselves were a little strange. For example, the Republican favorite was Mitt Romney, at 5 to 1. This is understandable, even though we haven’t heard from him since he dropped out of the 2008 race. But next in line was Sarah Palin at 6 to 1. How anyone in their right mind could envision this woman at the top of the 2012 presidential ticket, let alone as the number two favorite, escapes me. I’d sooner vote for Tina Fey.
Naturally, the Democratic front runner was Barak Obama, who would be the incumbent. No surprise there. But down the list, at only 100 to 1, was Caroline Kennedy! Based on hearing her speak as she seeks the soon to be vacated junior senate seat in New York, I can’t imagine why these odds shouldn’t be more like 1,000,000 to 1. Her father may have evoked visions of Camelot, but after hearing her speak, I’m reminded more of Spamalot.
On another page of the newspaper, I learned that on Inauguration Day, the vice president is sworn in first. I never realized that. Seems like putting the cart before the horse to me. The only advantage I see with that process is that it gets Cheney out of the picture that much sooner.
What struck me, beside the fact that these odds were being published, was that the 2008 presidential winner hadn’t even been sworn in yet. And the odds themselves were a little strange. For example, the Republican favorite was Mitt Romney, at 5 to 1. This is understandable, even though we haven’t heard from him since he dropped out of the 2008 race. But next in line was Sarah Palin at 6 to 1. How anyone in their right mind could envision this woman at the top of the 2012 presidential ticket, let alone as the number two favorite, escapes me. I’d sooner vote for Tina Fey.
Naturally, the Democratic front runner was Barak Obama, who would be the incumbent. No surprise there. But down the list, at only 100 to 1, was Caroline Kennedy! Based on hearing her speak as she seeks the soon to be vacated junior senate seat in New York, I can’t imagine why these odds shouldn’t be more like 1,000,000 to 1. Her father may have evoked visions of Camelot, but after hearing her speak, I’m reminded more of Spamalot.
On another page of the newspaper, I learned that on Inauguration Day, the vice president is sworn in first. I never realized that. Seems like putting the cart before the horse to me. The only advantage I see with that process is that it gets Cheney out of the picture that much sooner.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
