"You see the Mega Millions is up to over a Bil?"
"Oh yah. I got my tickets."
"Quick pick?"
"I picked two sets of numbers and then quick pick for the other three."
"Why waste time picking numbers? It's all random anyway."
"There's no such thing as truly random in this world, especially where numbers are concerned."
"How's that?"
"Well, it's a random drawing, but it's still mechanical and relies on the physical properties of the components. If you look at the last six months of results, you see all kinds of patterns. Some numbers show up more than others. Others never show up. Some numbers show up in back-to-back drawings multiple times. You can certainly leverage that history to select numbers that are more likely than other ones for whatever reason."
"Still, it's like a one-in-a-million chance you'll win."
"So you're telling me there's a chance..."
"Classic line."
"Try one in 302 million for the jackpot. But there are other cash prizes. The overall odds of winning something are about 1 in 24."
"I still think it's throwing money away."
"People throw money away on a lot of things. Starbucks, jewelry, sneakers. At least it was only $15 with the multiplier. I wipe my ass with fifteen dollars. Plus I bought a momentary dream of winning the big one."
"What's the number for you?
"What number?"
"Your cash-out number. Like what amount of money would you consider life-changing?"
"That number has gone up. I remember years ago in Vegas winning like $1200 on a dollar slot, and it felt like a lot. Nowadays, $1200 doesn't move the needle."
"Boy, it must be nice."
"I'm not saying I won't take it, but hey, it's going to take more than $1200."
"How about five grand?"
"Again, nice to have, but that one doesn't move the needle either."
"And again, must be nice."
"What do you want me to say? I've gotten lucky, and I'm damn good at what I do and I'm fiscally responsible."
"Okay, so how about $50K?"
"That's a big chunk of change that would move the needle but wouldn't drastically change my life."
"That would make a huge difference for me."
"I think more long term. The kind of money where I can quit my job and not be beholden to anybody for the rest of my life."
"Fuck-you money."
"Exactly."
"So, what's that amount?"
"It would be measured in millions. Dollars don't go as far as they used to. Let's just say the jackpot lump sum amount with taxes and everything else would definitely be enough."
"Well, good luck. You going to give me some money if you win?"
"Sure, as long as you don't waste it."
"Oh yah. I got my tickets."
"Quick pick?"
"I picked two sets of numbers and then quick pick for the other three."
"Why waste time picking numbers? It's all random anyway."
"There's no such thing as truly random in this world, especially where numbers are concerned."
"How's that?"
"Well, it's a random drawing, but it's still mechanical and relies on the physical properties of the components. If you look at the last six months of results, you see all kinds of patterns. Some numbers show up more than others. Others never show up. Some numbers show up in back-to-back drawings multiple times. You can certainly leverage that history to select numbers that are more likely than other ones for whatever reason."
"Still, it's like a one-in-a-million chance you'll win."
"So you're telling me there's a chance..."
"Classic line."
"Try one in 302 million for the jackpot. But there are other cash prizes. The overall odds of winning something are about 1 in 24."
"I still think it's throwing money away."
"People throw money away on a lot of things. Starbucks, jewelry, sneakers. At least it was only $15 with the multiplier. I wipe my ass with fifteen dollars. Plus I bought a momentary dream of winning the big one."
"What's the number for you?
"What number?"
"Your cash-out number. Like what amount of money would you consider life-changing?"
"That number has gone up. I remember years ago in Vegas winning like $1200 on a dollar slot, and it felt like a lot. Nowadays, $1200 doesn't move the needle."
"Boy, it must be nice."
"I'm not saying I won't take it, but hey, it's going to take more than $1200."
"How about five grand?"
"Again, nice to have, but that one doesn't move the needle either."
"And again, must be nice."
"What do you want me to say? I've gotten lucky, and I'm damn good at what I do and I'm fiscally responsible."
"Okay, so how about $50K?"
"That's a big chunk of change that would move the needle but wouldn't drastically change my life."
"That would make a huge difference for me."
"I think more long term. The kind of money where I can quit my job and not be beholden to anybody for the rest of my life."
"Fuck-you money."
"Exactly."
"So, what's that amount?"
"It would be measured in millions. Dollars don't go as far as they used to. Let's just say the jackpot lump sum amount with taxes and everything else would definitely be enough."
"Well, good luck. You going to give me some money if you win?"
"Sure, as long as you don't waste it."
