A Sad but True Texas Lottery Winner Story ....

http://www.lottoreport.com/TXWinnerSuicide.htm | Nov 24, 2004

[Polybius]

I see no pleasure in spending another man's money.

"Speak for yourself, exhaustguy."

[douglas1]

THOSE same people dont give a damn ,they just move on to the next sucker.

[BraveMan]

What is yer bellyache now??

I guess I'm a little snively, what with the looming holidays & all . . .

I apologize; it was a spiteful, uncalled for post. I'll refrain from any further contentious posts on the subject.

[Eaker]

It is a shame that this guy didn't have any true friends who would point out that he was slowly killing himself.

Killing oneself is just the final act in a long play and sometimes those it hurts the most are the only actors who could have stopped it. I have seen it and it is hard to have sympathy for those those who watched and did nothing.

I apologize for my smart aleck post. I should know better than post while I am house painting!!!!

[BigCinBigD]

Secondhand Lions is one of the best movies I have ever seen. :o)

[R. Scott]

For me that would be reasonable. I stay here now because of the weather – good people can be found most anywhere if a person looks, and I could always follow the weather.

[R. Scott]

Giving money to people isn't always helping.

Some of the people I know that would have a hand out would not be helped with money. They’d probably OD or drink themselves to death.

[quadrant]

To earn 150K on a million dollar investment would mean a return of 15%, which is a pretty steep return unless one is willing to take a great deal of risk.
In times of low interest rates, a more reasonable rate of return would be in the 4-6% range.

[B4Ranch]

A return in the 4-6% range means your net worth has dropped 2.5 to 4.5 in the past six months because the dollar has fallen 8.5% in the 6 months.

I averaged out at 23.045% return last month over a five year term. I do not make risky investments with more than 50k at a time and they are always very short term because I don't like having to keep my eye on the darn things.

I suggest getting a new financial advisor. Perhaps a couple of them.

[melbell]

Mr. Melbell maintains that a person has JUST AS MUCH of a chance of FINDING a winning lottery ticket on the sidewalk as one does of buying a winning ticket.

So instead of buying tickets, we just watch where we step.

[VOA]

IIRC, CBS's "48 Hours" (or some similar news-magazine) detailed a group of
hard-scrabble folks in Texas that had run a pool and finally hit the jackpot in
the lottery.

Some of them prospered, some coped and others seemed to be ruined by their new riches.

As I've always told my folks, if I ever get desparate enough to play the lottery,
and win, they should not worry if they don't hear from me for a month or so.
They should just wait until I call them from my small country estate in Tuscany;
otherwise I'll be incommunicado.

[Squantos]

"interesting phenomenon"....... as a former deputy I found that women would shoot themselves in the chest and men would shoot themselves in the head....something about how good they'd look in the coffin.

Hmmmmmmmm ......< tinfoil >

[SamAdams76]

Well, it would depend on WHY he was constantly being laid off. Quite often people who get laid off repeatedly do have something to cause them for getting laid off ... like talking back to the boss, coming in late everyday, not being able to take orders, etcetera.

I've been in management for many years and have been involved in layoffs. I can honestly say that my company has never, ever, laid off a good worker. Whenever we have to do RIF's (reduction in force), we use it as an opportunity to rid ourselves of deadwood and other "high-maintenance" employees.

Now maybe there are companies out there that layoff their best people. But I've never worked in such a company.

[lonestar]

The lottery is nothing but a tax on those who cannot comprehend Probability and Statistics

At least it is voluntary.

[Truth666]

Thanks for the link proving that Karen S. Gersten exists and confirms the story.

[Truth666]

Thanks. Interesting that Karen Garsten's only public appearance recorded by Google is to take place 6 days after reviving this story

[Truth666]

thanks. please see also the two previous posts

[Truth666]

I start explaining why the WHOLE story doesn't sound true.
The existance of a Billie Bob Harrell Jr. that wond $31 is confirmed by THREE sources
There are three elements to give credibility to this story :
- weekly The Houston Press, article from February 10, 2000
- Karen S. Gersten, mentioned in that article
- Texas Lottery

[Rate_Determining_Step]

> During the course of my life, other family members have said to others how greedy and selfish we were because we didn't spot them that $5,000 "loan" or help them get out of that credit card trouble. But my wife and I are wise enough to know that they are actually the greedy and selfish ones. It's a shame that this man never gained the same wisdom.

Ain't right quite just yet, but when we get there heaven help the poor dumb SOB that tries that crap with me. Blood relative or not.

[Trajan88]

No one would bother me if my numbers hit... all the folks I know already know I'm selfish and greedy to the nth degree; however, I do donate to the the R.C. church, Texas A&M Univ., the Republican party, and various charities - and will continue to do so.

Trajan88; TAMU Class of '88

p.s. Here's to looking forward to a possible Holiday Bowl bid and a little fun in the San Diego sun.