Wednesday, October 21, 2009

California SuperLotto

California state lottery, known as SuperLotto, is attracting millions of buyers. The jackpot starts with $7 million. If there is no winner, the amount is carried over to the next drawing. The highest amount it has reached so far is $193 million (February 16, 2002). The winnings are subject to Federal Income Tax. It is free from State Income Tax. Winning numbers are drawn twice a week, Wednesday and Saturday. The cost of each ticket is $1. We can select the numbers. Or, we can ask the computer to select the numbers at random. This is called quick pick.

Who does not want to make easy money without working? Most of us want to make easy money. Therefore, yesterday, I went to Safeway grocery store to buy a lottery ticket. I always buy only one ticket. There are some people who buy more than one ticket. That is a waste of money. The odds of winning are 1 in 41,416,353. Therefore, if we buy more than one ticket, the odds are not going to help us.

Here I am reminded of a story. A guy was praying God for so many years to win the lottery. He did not win. One day he got frustrated with God and prayed a lot asking Him why he did not win the lottery so far. God took pity on that guy. God appeared in front of him. The guy asked God why he is not winning the lottery even after praying Him for the last several years. God told him: I want to help you. But please meet me half the way. The guy asked God as to what should he do. God replied: Please go and buy a lottery ticket. Then only I can make you win.

I don’t want to be like that guy. Therefore, I buy one ticket for $1.

Something funny happened in the Safeway Store. We can buy lottery tickets in the lottery machine. But the machine does not give change. I did not have a one dollar bill. Therefore I went to the Customer Service Department. I was surprised to see the Store Manager there. Safeway is a very big grocery store chain. Each store has a manager and several assistant managers. Therefore, it is very rare that a manager himself/herself attending to the customers behind a counter. Here is how the conversation went:

Manager = Good Morning Sir, How may I help you today?

Me = Can I have a SuperLotto Quick Pick one ticket

Manager = Sure. You want ordinary numbers or lucky numbers?

(He was joking. Before he could finish the sentence)

Me = Neither of them. Give me the winning numbers.

He dropped the $5 bill I gave him. Looked at me and said: That was a very nice come back. But this is the first time someone said (in that quick come back) "give me the winning numbers." So far every customer I asked that question have replied “give me the lucky numbers”. He gave me the ticket and said: Good luck to you.

There are some people who buy tickets for several weeks in a row. I buy only for one drawing at a time. Why? In my opinion, if I buy for next week also, it means in my mind I unconsciously believe that I am not going to win this week. Therefore, one lottery drawing at a time.

Did I win? I will know today, Wednesday, at 8 PM.
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35 comments:

  1. Who Posted This?October 21, 2009 at 3:27 PM

    Good luck to you on hitting the lottery tonight.
    I don’t see anything wrong with making easy money without working.

    Regards,
    Melania Knauss and Anna Nicole Smith (that’s Mrs. Marshall to you!)

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  2. SGOctober 21, 2009 at 4:47 PM

    Thanks for your comments Mrs. Trump and Mrs. Marshall. What can I do? I am a poor guy who wants to make easy money by investing $1.00 in lottery. I don’t have saleable merchandise to invest like some people.

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  3. TitaxyOctober 21, 2009 at 7:08 PM

    well that was a really good come back, SG :-)

    good luck :D...

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  4. SGOctober 21, 2009 at 7:42 PM

    Thanks for your comments Titaxy. And, thanks for wishing me good luck.

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  5. SamvednaOctober 21, 2009 at 8:15 PM

    Who wouldnt like to win the lottery:) but dont know why my dad always made us feel that its not good for us, he used to say that if we get anything without working, its not good..But still I have put many in many raffles and all, but no luck.

    Wish you all the best aand good luck !!

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  6. InsigniaOctober 21, 2009 at 9:37 PM

    Good luck to you. That was a quick witty answer from you.

    And LOL! at your response to Who Posted This - "salable merchandise"

    hahahahaha

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  7. SGOctober 21, 2009 at 9:40 PM

    Thanks for your comments Antarman. Your dad is an honest working person.

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  8. SGOctober 21, 2009 at 9:41 PM

    Thanks for your comments Insignia. Saleable merchandise? I am sorry I don't have it...I think.

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  9. NehaOctober 21, 2009 at 9:51 PM

    hmmm lottery ticket...innit kinda addictive? I have personally never tried one, as my luck in such case is, ahem, too poor...even if there are two numbers in front of me, one of them being the winning number, I will end up selecting the other one :(

    I loved ur reply to that manager...

    Good Luck...I will wait for the result and hope u win :)

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  10. Kavita SahariaOctober 21, 2009 at 10:01 PM

    Would you blog more or less after you win this lottery ? Good Luck !!!

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  11. UnknownOctober 21, 2009 at 11:37 PM

    Nice witty comeback!! :)
    Best of luck...

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  12. Varsha ShroteOctober 22, 2009 at 12:05 AM

    Did you win??I am so curious! Very witty reply to the store-manager:)
    I have never bought a lottery ticket because I feel that even if ZI win some money that won't suit me, somehow!
    Good luck :)

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  13. lostworldOctober 22, 2009 at 1:52 AM

    Did you win? Did you win??

    Liked the way you described the whole scenario with little titbits !!

    Also liked your logic of buying one each week.. LOL.

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  14. ShruthiOctober 22, 2009 at 4:02 AM

    I too loved your come back :D

    so did you win? hope you did :)

    I remember there was a guy near my place who sold lottery tickets. my cousin (guess we were all 8-10 years old) once went to him and asked if he could give us the old unsold tickets and he gave it to us. we played name/place/animal/thing on the other side of the ticket hehe.. i dunno why my cousin specifically asked for those tickets though!

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  15. SwatantraOctober 22, 2009 at 6:13 AM

    Hi,

    Good luck!! Nice story!!

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  16. SGOctober 22, 2009 at 7:14 AM

    Thanks for your comments Neha. Are there lotteries in India? I thought they were banned.

    Anyhow, I did not win in the last night's drawing. But one consolation is nobody won. Thefore, it will be carried over to this coming Saturday's drawing.

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  17. SGOctober 22, 2009 at 7:15 AM

    Thanks for your comments Kavita. If I win the lottery, I will blog more. Because I don't have to work and therefore I will have more free time.

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  18. SGOctober 22, 2009 at 7:16 AM

    Thanks for your comments Shruti. I will take your "best of luck" for this coming Saturday's drawing.

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  19. SGOctober 22, 2009 at 7:18 AM

    Thanks for your comments Varsha. I did not win yesterday. Looking forward to this Saturday.

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  20. SGOctober 22, 2009 at 7:19 AM

    Thanks for your comments lostworld. That logic....I don't know whether to call it self confidence or blind ambition.

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  21. NehaOctober 22, 2009 at 7:19 AM

    yeah, there are super lottos here (or there were, I dunno)...and official ones...

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  22. SGOctober 22, 2009 at 7:24 AM

    Thanks for your comments Shruthi. I have several old tickets. I can send them to you. Now that you have become older, some kids in your family can play those games.

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  23. SGOctober 22, 2009 at 7:25 AM

    Thanks for your comments Swatantra. Will accept your good luck wishes for this coming Saturday.

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  24. ekta khetanOctober 22, 2009 at 10:38 AM

    Interesting. So did you win? :)

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  25. NROctober 22, 2009 at 12:03 PM

    I really have not been great fan of this lottery system...as it rarely helps one but destroys many!!

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  26. SGOctober 22, 2009 at 2:06 PM

    Thanks for your comments Nazish. I agree with you. However, when it rarely helps one, I want to be that "one".

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  27. AnonymousOctober 22, 2009 at 3:26 PM

    Cheerful, light post. Made me smile. :-) Good luck with your lottery ticket thing.

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  28. SGOctober 22, 2009 at 5:46 PM

    Thanks for your comments Numerounity. I did not win. I am waiting for this Saturday.

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  29. SGOctober 22, 2009 at 5:47 PM

    Thanks for the info Neha.

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  30. SGOctober 22, 2009 at 5:51 PM

    Thanks for the comments Gautam. If I win, you will be the first to know. My name will be flashed in KGO, KPIX and KRON.

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  31. HaRy!!October 23, 2009 at 8:01 AM

    Luck on yur Lottery? oh i realised its already late..wha happened then?win paniyacha?

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  32. SGOctober 23, 2009 at 8:21 AM

    Thanks for your comments HaRy. Win pannaliyay. Nobody won. Carry over to this Saturday.

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  33. radhaOctober 23, 2009 at 9:24 AM

    All of us could do with a little extra money! Since the money got carried over, you have a better chance of winning a lot more. All the best.

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  34. SGOctober 23, 2009 at 10:48 AM

    Thanks for your good luck wishes Radha. Appreciate it.

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  35. VishnuOctober 27, 2009 at 9:14 PM

    wow.. good 1.. u said the winning numbers are drawn twice a week.. if there isnt a winner on wednesday..the amount will be carried over to saturday.. what if there is a winner.. then wat happens to the saturday draw??

    lol@ the story.. the perfect example for the lines.. god helps those who help themselves.. although in a very crude way..

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