09.04.06
Lotto
I had ONE number. It’s SO annoying. OTHER people win it all the time. I usually defer checking the numbers. As long as I haven’t checked, then I haven’t lost. Which is the cat theory isn’t it? Schopenhauer. Sigh.
An Irish woman’s social, political and domestic commentary
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David Brophy said,
September 4, 2006 at 12:36 pm
Schrodinger’s cat not Schopenhauer ( he was the one who thought people didn’t have individual wills, instead being subject to a greater collective will – like did you really want to play Lotto?)
Sarah said,
September 4, 2006 at 1:18 pm
ah! thanks.. Schrodinger Schrodinger
and yes, I really did want to play the Lotto because I would love the money. Of course, I actually hate playing the lotto because a) I haven’t won and b) given the odds I am most unlikely to. BUT as I say, OTHER people win, no reason why I can’t. Well, except for the odds. But otherwise…
Pete said,
September 4, 2006 at 3:30 pm
>OTHER people win it all the time
Other people also get hit by lightening all the time, or suddenly go blind, or lose their whole family in a Tunami. How lucky do you really want to be?
I’ve heard that the odds of winning on National Savings Bonds are much better than the Lotto, and you get your stake money back too, win or lose. Prizes are smaller though. I used to have 10,000 pounds worth of
UK prize bonds when I lived over there, and although I never won a big prize the steady trickle of tax-free cheques for 50 and 100 quid was more than I’d have got in a deposit account.
Pete said,
September 4, 2006 at 3:42 pm
Hey, I just thought of a great use for the Schrodinger’s cat theory. If I find myself in a car that’s about to be involved in a major collision, I just close my eyes. Since I can’t see if the collision has happened, it can neither happen nor not happen until I open them. With eyes firmly clamped shut, I reach for mobile phone and phone for a taxi. When well clear of the potential accident site, I can re-open my eyes. I could even send the taxi back to rescue the other potential accident victims, since the accident will still have neither happened nor not happened until I return to the scene to collect my car.
Must send this one to Gay Byrne.
graham said,
September 5, 2006 at 7:46 pm
I do exactly as you do Sarah, I avoid checking the numbers until I have to. I also request that other people don’t tell me if it was won or not, the longer I don’t know, the longer my fantasy of being rich can continue and I can keep on planning how I’ll divide and spend the money.
Pete, your use of the Schrodinger’s cat theory, is flawed I’m afraid. The idea is that if you don’t know something has happened, then it may not have happened. However, if you are in a car about to collide, simply closing your eyes will not prevent you from knowing that a collision has occured. We have more senses than just our eyesight!!
ben said,
September 5, 2006 at 7:47 pm
The squeezebox player for the effing SAWDOCTORS won.
Someone’s always going to win. Just not you.
Maths is important.
Sarah said,
September 6, 2006 at 8:59 am
oh btw, I used to have Prize Bonds too. Still have a few I think. When we were building the house I’d buy prize bonds before we had to hand the money over to the builder. When you are dealing with tens of thousands then about once a month I would win €75 or something. Whereas the bonds I received over the years as presents have never won anything. I sold back the big amounts and kept the present ones. You never know. But I don’t expect anything.
Pete said,
September 6, 2006 at 11:36 am
>Pete, your use of the Schrodinger’s cat theory, is flawed I’m afraid
Yes, I know, I have a physics degree. Just playing.
Niall said,
September 6, 2006 at 1:11 pm
Who was it that called the Lotto a tax on people who can’t do maths?