Members techristian Posted January 1, 2007 Members Share Posted January 1, 2007 It makes you think. http://www.lotterypost.com/news/147743.htm?p=1 Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blue2blue Posted January 1, 2007 Members Share Posted January 1, 2007 Matthew 19:24...? How is it fair... he ALREADY had a '63 Corvette! 'Course, last time I checked they weren't ferrying those to the Hereafter, either. Way back when, seems like I read about a guy who won three times on a row on a Vegas roulette table -- betting it all each time on number 31. Then, many many tens of thousands richer (IIRC) he went upstairs in the hotel and blew out his brains. Everytime I hear this song, I think about that guy: Sin CityWords and Music by Gram Parsons and Chris HillmanThis old town is filled with sin,It'll swallow you inIf you've got some money to burn.Take it home right away,You've got three years to payBut Satan is waiting his turnThis old earthquake's gonna leave me in the poor house.It seems like this whole town's insaneOn the thirty-first floor your gold plated doorWon't keep out the Lord's burning rainThe scientists sayIt'll all wash awayBut we don't believe any moreCause we've got our recruitsAnd our green mohair suitsSo please show you ID At the door.A friend came around.Tried to clean up this town,His ideas made some people mad.But he trusted his crowd,So he spoke right out loudAnd they lost the best friend they hadOn the thirty-first floor your gold plated doorWon't keep out the Lord's burning rain I always wonder if Gram or Chris read about the same guy... PS... That news story became a WHOLE lot LESS perplexing after one of my friends, whose father worked for, er, shall we say, a family business (a strip bar in a Midwestern river town know for being wide open), told me the story of going to Vegas with his old man. They were only in town for two days and his father spent virtually the whole of the first day in the hotel room. In the evening he got a phone call, didn't say much, hung up, went down stairs, put $10,000 on a single number on a roulette table, won, colleced several hundred thousand dollars, parked it in the hotel safe, and went back up to his room. His son was beside himself. But the father was matter of fact. "This doesn't have anything to do with us. The money isn't ours. Don't get excited." And that was all he said about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members offramp Posted January 1, 2007 Members Share Posted January 1, 2007 Originally posted by techristian It makes you think. About what? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members techristian Posted January 1, 2007 Author Members Share Posted January 1, 2007 Originally posted by offramp About what? What would happen to YOU if you won that amount? You could eat the richest foods and drink the best wine and would have all kinds of time on your hands to eat and drink even more ! Or would you be able to exercise restraint ? Is it possible that this man went from perfectly healthy to perfectly unhealthy in 1 year from overexcess or..... Did someone poison him to get this money? My feeling is that this man may have lived a much longer life had he NOT won the money. Of course that is only my feeling. I could be completely wrong. I never personally knew the man. Maybe he gave 1/2 of it away to the poor. We had similar case in my town. A guy won more than a million and spent it all on new cars and a huge home. He was broke in less than 5 years and died shortly after..............pennyless. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blue2blue Posted January 1, 2007 Members Share Posted January 1, 2007 I was thinking along the same lines, Dan. "Good fortune" can produce big stress, just like bad fortune. Sudden money, sudden change... all of a sudden old friends treat you differently... people you would have never dreamed would be envious appear very much to be, despite their best efforts. People want things... Tumult. Personal paradigm shift. Stress. Coming into a wad of money sounds pretty easy until it happens to you. Some people never recover. Some people almost consciously work to throw it all away. Others become defensive and protective. It seems to me that the people who can just relax and enjoy good fortune may be in the minority... Mind you, it's trouble most of us would wish for. But it's often trouble that folks don't handle all that well, nonetheless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ani Posted January 1, 2007 Members Share Posted January 1, 2007 Several years ago I recall mistakenly thinking I had won $2000.00 on a game that Coca Cola was sponsoring with pop bottle caps, or tabs. According to the game rules, everyone else around me thought that I had won also. In the short time that it took awaiting for the weekend to get over so that I could call Coca Cola Corporation, I remember how EVERYONE and their dog was telling me that I could afford to buy them dinner with my winnings. EVERYONE, people that I was not really even friends with were telling me that I could share the wealth and splurge a bit for everybody. It was really an eerie feeling how people just seemed to crawl out of the woodwork. I finally got to the point to where I started telling people that if I paid for everyone that had ask me to share the wealth, I would actually be $2,000.00 in the rear rather than $2,000.00 richer. When Monday rolled around, I was not nearly as disappointed as I should have been in learning there was a "clause" in the contest that had not been fulfilled.... The contest rules were very deceptive and misleading to contestants... so there was no prize money. It was almost a relief telling folks that they were going to have to buy me dinner since I was poor again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ed A. Posted January 1, 2007 Members Share Posted January 1, 2007 Originally posted by blue2blue Matthew 19:24...? More like Luke 12:16-21. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ani Posted January 1, 2007 Members Share Posted January 1, 2007 PS... That news story became a WHOLE lot LESS perplexing after one of my friends, whose father worked for, er, shall we say, a family business (a strip bar in a Midwestern river town know for being wide open), told me the story of going to Vegas with his old man.They were only in town for two days and his father spent virtually the whole of the first day in the hotel room. In the evening he got a phone call, didn't say much, hung up, went down stairs, put $10,000 on a single number on a roulette table, won, colleced several hundred thousand dollars, parked it in the hotel safe, and went back up to his room. His son was beside himself. But the father was matter of fact. "This doesn't have anything to do with us. The money isn't ours. Don't get excited." Definitely sounds like business associated with the FAMILY to me.... It is doubtful that the man pulled the trigger himself regardless of what information was released to the coroner and immediate family. I can almost assure you that the son did not walk away with the money stored inside the safe, although it would have belonged to the man's rightful heirs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blue2blue Posted January 1, 2007 Members Share Posted January 1, 2007 Originally posted by Ani Definitely sounds like business associated with the FAMILY to me.... Yeah... I don't know about the guy in the original newspaper story (which would have been the early 60s). But, pretty much for sure, the story my friend told me (which probably would have been the 70s) related to money that wanted to move from one node of a certain set of people to another node but didn't want to leave a trail. Money has a way of doing that in some business milieus. ______________ Ed... I bow to your better scriptural knowledge. Good call. ______________ Back to Ani... Imagine what it would have been like if they thought you'd won 2 million dollars. Or $208 million. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members techristian Posted January 1, 2007 Author Members Share Posted January 1, 2007 Sometimes the things that we THINK we want are not the best for us. We are like children who want to eat the whole chocolate cake and no meat or vegetables. My wife reminds me of Luke 12 many times. "Bigger and bigger barns" that is why STORAGE companies are so profitable today. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blue2blue Posted January 1, 2007 Members Share Posted January 1, 2007 OK... I don't like where this is going... pretty soon you'll be telling me I can't play 25 guitars at once. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members antematter Posted January 2, 2007 Members Share Posted January 2, 2007 What about the poor, uh, I mean heartbroken widow? It's her I worry about. The bottom dwelling scum that will try to sink their bloody claws into her misfortunes....Oh, the horror. (Packs bags for Michigan ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ani Posted January 2, 2007 Members Share Posted January 2, 2007 Imagine what it would have been like if they thought you'd won 2 million dollars. Or $208 million. That thought crossed my mind, at the time, and has continued to dwell as many years have passed. ...related to money that wanted to move from one node of a certain set of people to another node but didn't want to leave a trail This has been an extremely sensitive subject for me for the last 20 years, and it is especially difficult right now. In brief, my mother was the victim of an organized crime hit 20 years ago this coming February. It's really ironic how all the medical records are made to reflect natural causes, and yet, the threats leading up to the death and the post incidents immediately following the death stamp a signature of the mercenary on their victim. With all the warning signs prior to death, one knows that a full scale investigation would be futile and that the person initiating it could easily become a target if they pursued the issue. What is sad is the fact that the bad guys are often the wolves in sheeps' linen. The villains are the heros and sometimes the biggest criminals are the lawmakers and the enforcers. This year, a few days after Christmas, I learned that the family member responsible for my mother's death died in a one man car crash. He was a professionally contracted mercenary that shared "too much information" with my mother... he warned her prior to her death that "THEY", whoever the hell they were, had threatened him with her life.... He said that "THEY" were asking him to do things that he didn't want to do anymore and told him that he would do them or else. I remember when he came to town sporting his first Mercedes' Benz; his thirst for wealth was evident and it was apparent that he would stop at nothing to achieve his ultimate high in life... fortune. He owned three Benz's as well as several different homes in different states by the time he had reached his late 20's. Although he and I grew up together as children, being only a month apart in age, I could not find any part of me capable of grieving when I learned about his death. All I could do was acknowledge the news of his death and express condolences; my words were without emotion. I did not go to his funeral, nor did I seek to learn of it's time or whereabouts; it may be tomorrow. He turned 47 on December 14th and lived his whole life in the fast lane. I feel guilty that I am feeling so calloused and without compassion. In the very sparse conversation that has been discussed around my immediate family members, I said to my brother, "I guess Ron's lifestyle finally caught up with him" to which my brother replied, "Yeah, it was bound to happen sooner or later." I am sure that those will be the final words of discussion that I will partake in with family members surrounding my cousin's death. I guess someone ordered an investigation surrounding the accident, but I really don't care to know the results.... That's sad that I should feel that way about anyone. Sorry to hijack the thread, but this has been weighing heavy on me. Is it wrong to feel relief instead of grief? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blue2blue Posted January 2, 2007 Members Share Posted January 2, 2007 No, I'm sorry we stumbled into what's undoubtedly a painful subject for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rique Posted January 2, 2007 Members Share Posted January 2, 2007 Foul play maybe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cooterbrown Posted January 2, 2007 Members Share Posted January 2, 2007 Originally posted by techristian It makes you think. http://www.lotterypost.com/news/147743.htm?p=1 Dan I get the gist of your post, and I appreciate your thoughts, but things like that only reaffirm my belief that life and all things in the universe are random, chaotic, and arbitrary. Humans have the uncanny knack for reducing their odds of survival, however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members elsongs Posted January 2, 2007 Members Share Posted January 2, 2007 At least he bought the farm when he was still alive! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EccentRick Posted January 2, 2007 Members Share Posted January 2, 2007 Originally posted by elsongs At least he bought the farm when he was still alive! Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ani Posted January 2, 2007 Members Share Posted January 2, 2007 Originally posted by blue2blue No, I'm sorry we stumbled into what's undoubtedly a painful subject for you. That's okay, it's something that a person learns to live with after time. It's just that right now, with the news of my cousin's death, all of the memories have resurfaced. It's almost as though a new dimension of a healing process has just begun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Lee Knight Posted January 2, 2007 Moderators Share Posted January 2, 2007 I've often felt that if I were to win 100 million dollars, that in some way "it would all be over". There would be nothing left to strive for... But the truth is, there is always something to strive for. Knowledge can't be bought. Nor can wisdom, or spirituality. Unfortunately I can see how all that dough could blind you to those facts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blue2blue Posted January 2, 2007 Members Share Posted January 2, 2007 Originally posted by Ani That's okay, it's something that a person learns to live with after time. It's just that right now, with the news of my cousin's death, all of the memories have resurfaced. It's almost as though a new dimension of a healing process has just begun. I'm sure that's true. Hang in there, Ani. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Kendrix Posted January 2, 2007 Members Share Posted January 2, 2007 Originally posted by Lee Knight I've often felt that if I were to win 100 million dollars, that in some way "it would all be over". There would be nothing left to strive for... But the truth is, there is always something to strive for. Knowledge can't be bought. Nor can wisdom, or spirituality. Unfortunately I can see how all that dough could blind you to those facts. I agree.. i could handle the 100 million and stay focused... on writing a killer song for the ages, on catching a really amazing wave, on staying in shape, on seeing the world. I could actually use the hours from 9-5 Monday-Fridays to pursue those things. The main thing that would be "over" for me would be the stress associated with providing for my family and for my financial future. I could definitely handle that. Of course, Its unlikely this will ever happen to me since I never throw money at the lottery. FWIW- Ive even spent some time in Vegas without gambling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members offramp Posted January 3, 2007 Members Share Posted January 3, 2007 Well, we don't know if the guy went into gluttony or not, and I'm relieved that you noted that, Dan, as I was concerned there were assumptions on your part. We do know that he spent a good portion of his fortune helping other family members. For me, it's this: that I could die a year from winning the lottery means nothing to me. I could also die a year from not winning the lottery. Therefore, I play it. I've certainly had a lot of time to think about what I'd do with it, a lot of time to rehearse things in my head. And as for people coming out of the woodwork...well, I'm already pretty much a loner, so those folks will be easy to spot a mile away. I already have a list of who gets what, anyway. I'll enjoy it when it comes. And I'm certainly old enough to know that going on a mondo spending spree ain't gonna do {censored} for me, immediately or spiritually; yes, I have some things I'd like to get, and they're pretty much centered around pursuing a dream or two. Otherwise, there's a number of things I'd like to contribute to, some things to either get in motion or add a boost to. And I will admit, I might like to have a '63 'Vette, like our protagonist. But that's mostly because I was born in '63 (and enjoy the older 'vette style), not because I need to impress anyone. It would, in all likelihood, be my most superfulous expenditure. I'd probably own it for a couple of years, then sell it. However, I'm really at a point where something like that isn't a priority. A nice, big SSL console and killer studio ranks higher than that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blackpig Posted January 3, 2007 Members Share Posted January 3, 2007 My mother used to have a saying that went, "Put a beggar on horseback and he'll ride to the Devil." I've often noticed that people who earn their riches or who grew up with money are far more down to earth and focussed than poor people who suddenly come into great wealth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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