COVER -> RECOMMENDED DAILY REQUIREMENT
YOU TOO COULD BE A WINNER! - The man in the suit, the guy with the hip-hop look, the princess in the mink, and the guy with the tool belt: all wearing that same nervous, half-smile, like people waiting for the lab results from their doctor after having engaged in some kind of "risky" behavior. They have. They got in line at the Lottery Counter.
As you might have guessed, I have climbed up on the stump today, to share my thoughts on socialized gambling: the races, sports pools, casinos, lotteries AND those buy-a-magazine-and-enter sweepstakes. Politicians and businessmen claim these schemes to be a benefit to hard pressed areas and people, pumping money in and creating jobs. I say, Bullshit!
Before you dismiss me as some righteous killjoy, let me say that I am not against a "friendly" wager over who will win the World Heavyweight Boxing title or a "boys/girls night" game of cards. There at least, knowledge, skill and/or due diligence to your hand might make a difference. My problem with large scale games of chance, aside from the money lost and the personal and financial lives that are ruined, is my strongly held belief that a destruction of spirit emanates from games of "pure" chance. I think they reduce standards of personal responsibility by allowing the "players" to saddle Lady Luck with their REAL LIFE problems and destroy self-worth/esteem when the Lady invariably throws them off. They also steal billions of dollars away from legitimate savings plans and the main stream of commerce.
"My number is gonna come up, sooner or later." I have talked with myself blue in the face, trying to explain to a neighbor how playing the same numbers each week does not increase your odds of winning! See, the balls go back into the machine and are JUST AS LIKELY to fall out in the same pattern as the week before! Statistically speaking, you are 30-100 times as likely to get hit and killed by lightening, as you are to win a particular state lottery. Do YOU know anyone who was hit by lightening?
| The World's Magazine: g21.net
Event # 211: SINK OR SHRINK This Pull-down Menu will hyperjump you to all our great features. Try it! JOIN THE G21 MAILING LIST. Get updates on new features. Take part in our Readership polls, shape the future of The World's Magazine. It's easy! E-mail The World's Magazine with the "Subject" line: SUBSCRIBE. Want to know more about our community? The Info is here. LAST WEEK's EDITION For Deep Background visit the G21-Barnes & Noble Shop OR get great books at the G21 BARNES & NOBLE SEARCH ENGINE Discover the MOIA Discussion List |
"I'm lucky(special) and I know sooner or later I'll hit it big and be RICH!" Ahhhhh; so that's it! You got up this morning, looked in the mirror, and said,"Yo Ba-by! You are the greatest, you deserve more than the next guy, it doesn't matter that you have squandered your opportunities, not worked up to your potential, failed to follow through, failed to save - YOU DESERVE TO TAKE from the other guy, 'cause the other guy is a loser." Is that appreciably less presumptuous than thinking,"I'm white and all right, you're black, so jump back" or "WE are God's chosen people"? On what, arbitrarily dispensed heritage? Is it any less egocentric than a lover who tells you,"I make you crazy, I can make you do anything." Lady Luck (and real life) both respond to that with,"Sorry sucker, I'm doing your best friend." What makes you feel so especially lucky?
Face it kids, life ain't fair and bad shit happens to good people. Like that time you got dumped, or your brand new alarm clock failed and you woke up late for your first day at the "dream job". Or when that friend died in the freak accident. Odds are, 90% of your good fortune in life was simple dumb luck: COMPLETELY UNDESERVED. The other 10% you earned.
You want money: learn, earn and save. You want to be a winner: practice hard, lose gracefully, learn from your mistakes - and NO CHEATING! You want to show the world you're someone special: do something special. Help a child, show compassion, be fair, accept responsibility and share your good fortune with those less fortunate. Change a small piece of your world; and be thankful for what you have.
Want to be a loser? Roll the dice, your odds are as good as the next guy.
RDR RECOMMENDED SITE OF THE DAY: Our pal Ric Erickson produces a joy of a site called METROPOLE PARIS. Francophiles will love this one!
