2024: Billion Dollar Jackpot Part I

Well, it is another $1 Billion dollar jackpot (or the more impressive $1,100,000,000), this time for Mega Millions (Tuesday March 26, 2024). Powerball is threatening a part II (at $800 million). 

i could use an Eostre miracle (a fiscal resurrection, if you will).

Yes, i want to win the jackpot. No, i do not look forward to all the logistical hoops involved with a deposit of that magnitude.

Definitely going to take the lump sum (my alleged father died of cancer 4 years older than i am now). Wonder with taxes how much i would really see. $525.8 million cash option if only winner (unlikely). i know federal withholding is supposed to be 24%. But if it counts as income would definitely increase my tax bracket (maybe the 37% one).  

i always use the concept of getting to keep only 30%. So, only $157.54 Million after taxes. Say 2 other winners: $52.58M proceeds. Anything above that is a bonus.  Prove me wrong, large Mega Millions jackpot win. 

Random Musings Today: AMZN, Oppenheimer, etc

 So, i've been thinking... ready for a bunch of disconnected ideas? Too bad

Valentine's Day

Notice how i didn't say "happy Valentines Day". Probably because it never really has been. Of all the manufactured "holidays", Valentine's Day is among the most annoying. A day celebrating the commercialized caricature of love. Selling cards, candy and jewelry. If you are perpetually on the outside looking in, it can be depressing and hopeless.

What is love? Does it really exist?

i've been waiting for someone other than Foreigner to tell me - no, show me. Does love exist?  My answer is no - at least not in the way it is portrayed in songs and movies. One of my sisters says, "love is a mutual decision".  A decision with no permanence that can change at any time. Maybe that's why she's divorced.

In my limited experience (assuming i actually ever had any), love is more like addiction - a mixture of wanting somewhere/someone to belong, pretending someone really cares, and misinterpreted lust.

Unconditional love seems like an awesome concept. The problem is that humans never do anything unconditionally.  

Though, maybe i'm just one of the mutants over at table 9 who will never find true love (always been a bigger fan of true love finding me). Every time i have taken a chance it has blown up in my face. Once bitten infinity times shy.

Much of human behavior is not free will, but programming. Couple that with the abstract modern view of life - traditional/evolutionary realities cast by the wayside (especially by females) chasing rainbows better not caught.

Wish i would have been assigned a mate at 15 or so. As far as i'm concerned, dating should be one of the deeper levels of Hell (yes, referencing a book i've never read).  People pretending to be something they are not so they will be accepted (or at least get some).

My Conservative Manifesto Rewrite: The Indexing

 In 2022, i revisited my conservative manifesto. i didn't fundamentally change most of my views. Here is a (attempted link) to put this all together in one jumping off point. Not sure all of my links work (some of the links look wrong). If they don't, look for the tag "MCMr" tag.

As i stated in the first post, when i say manifesto, i mean more along the lines of Jerry McGuire - not the Unabomber. Want any more, ask. i probably have a view on it. Want me to expand on sections a little more, ask.

i joke to myself that if i ever won the lottery (net $100M), i would run for president (despite social anxiety issues).

Just Intimating IV

 Roman Numerals - that'll show you it is a sequel post.

In this episode: MEGA Snake Mountain and a bonus appearance by a K'nex marble run set that doesn't really work.

Random Musings Today: Xmas Gifts, Puzzles, Seinfeld, etc

 What have i been thinking about lately? Where will this post go? Another good question

 - Xmas Presents: Usually, i get myself some movies and stuff for Solstice. i still get some presents from Santa. Only one series left to watch from past years - Sgt. Bilko (Phil Silvers show). Usually, i "watch" TV shows on DVDs and movies while doing a puzzle or LEGO sets.

i got a marble coaster set from K'nex. Bad directions and it doesn't actually work right the vast majority of the time. At least i guessed correctly most of the time what the right piece was (the white bars of varying lengths). The tolerance for this to work were miniscule - an some of the pieces shift or warp.

- Puzzles: Every year i get myself 2 or so puzzles. The last 2-3 years it has been Thomas Kinkade Studios Xmas puzzles. Yes, i like his style - kind of a less abstract more commercial version of Impressionism (with some Norman Rockwell elements mixed in). i finished a few puzzles - mostly 1,000 piece in 3 days each (who knows the number of hours). 

Just Saying 7

Xmas and Solstice came and went yet again. i got myself some more LEGO sets and Santa got me another one. Pictured below (poorly) are these sets (Not pictured: a LEGO Classic set with functions/gears (posted on intimating post) and a small similar set i got for free when ordering Himeji Castle.)

i could use more space. Too bad Santa Claus yet again forsook me. Could have used that new 2,500+ sq ft house.