The Daily Ping

FROM: Chris [E-Mail]
DATE: Friday January 7, 2005 -- 10:03:55 am

When I was 18 we were at my grandmother's house in MA and I played a $1 pick 4 ticket - playing the last 4 digits of my SS#. I won- sharing the pot with a group of other people I took home about $150 IIRC.

I probably haven't spent $10 on the lottery since. I think the lottery is basically a tax on ignorance.

FROM: jk
DATE: Friday January 7, 2005 -- 12:18:38 pm

No, never. My retirements accounts are my lottery.

FROM: Joseph
DATE: Friday January 7, 2005 -- 1:18:52 pm

No.

FROM: Andy
DATE: Friday January 7, 2005 -- 2:42:32 pm

I buy a lotto ticket about three times a year on a whim. I just bought one a few weeks ago and matched 3 numbers ($3). It was exciting though as I matched the first three numbers in order. I don't know when Illinois started paying on 3 #'s.

I have gotten 4 numbers (~$60) and 5 numbers in the past (~$2200), so I am way ahead (and due for 6?). I am a lucky person by nature. Logically, I don't really believe in luck, but since I seem to be lucky, I try not to say I don't believe, since that might change my luck. Twisted huh?

FROM: Dave Walls [E-Mail]
DATE: Friday January 7, 2005 -- 2:57:10 pm

Lottery tickets? No. The occasional trip to Atlantic City? Yes.

Poker and slots and craps....oh my.

FROM: Ken
DATE: Friday January 7, 2005 -- 3:24:27 pm

My granparents have been playing every week since like i was born, ther probably never weven won anything more than 4, But when they do win, "shes gonna take us all to disneyland" but it sucks because we arent allowed to go until they win.

FROM: Ken
DATE: Friday January 7, 2005 -- 3:30:01 pm

Did anyone see the episode of The spimson when the guy who wroks at the quikie mart was asleep and homer used the ray gun thing to see if the lottery tickets would win and like one was 500 dollars and he was like "i want this one, and tese slim jims" and apu maybe was like "three fifity" and homer on had two so he boguht the slims jims instead, that was funny,i wonder how much trouble u could get in for like using a handhelp ray thing and read them and see if the win.

FROM: Jason
DATE: Friday January 7, 2005 -- 4:42:38 pm

"i wonder how much trouble u could get in for like using a handhelp ray thing and read them and see if the win."

I'm guessing none, because handheld ray things that can read lottery tickets don't exist.

FROM: Ken
DATE: Friday January 7, 2005 -- 8:36:31 pm

Yes they are, the people behind the counter have them and read them for you if you dont wanna scratch it off, just ask, and if they can have one, why couldnt you be able to buy a smaller version?

FROM: Dave Walls [E-Mail]
DATE: Saturday January 8, 2005 -- 1:37:49 pm

The readers that the people behind the counter have will ask for a code that is on the ticket itself, if it isn't fully scratched. The only way to get that code? Scratch the ticket off.

FROM: Dave Walls [E-Mail]
DATE: Saturday January 8, 2005 -- 1:48:41 pm

Ryan --

Did you ever used to watch the lottery drawings live on TV? I'm still fascinated by the machines that do the drawing.

Even funnier, the Pennsylvania lottery still uses senior citzens to "monitor" the drawings. I keep waiting for Grandpa to cry foul and attack the guy drawing the balls with his walker...


Okay, I need to go back to therapy.. ;p

FROM: Ryan [E-Mail]
DATE: Saturday January 8, 2005 -- 7:38:15 pm

Did you ever used to watch the lottery drawings live on TV? I'm still fascinated by the machines that do the drawing.

Yes... my parents would buy a Pick 6 somewhat regularly and would watch NJN for the results. My favorite lottery ball machines are definitely the big barrels where a ball gets sucked up through the tube. The person reading the numbers off would always have to adjust the ball for the camera.

Even funnier, the Pennsylvania lottery still uses senior citzens to "monitor" the drawings.

Wow, had no idea!