Froth Slosh B'Gosh

Two Questions

Question one:  Why don't these "psychics" ever win the big jackpot?

The Powerball jackpot stands at $425 million. While that’s a big chunk of change, it doesn’t match the record payout of $590 million in May won by a Florida woman.

Wednesday, we went to see a psychic to get an improbable edge.

“I feel 14 is one number that I’m picking up…”

Springfield psychic Eddie K. is seeing numbers pop into his head – numbers that could be the ticket to millions in tonight’s Powerball drawing....

So we asked for Eddie’s thoughts on tonight’s $425 million jackpot.

“[Will anybody in western Massachusetts win a big jackpot?] I don’t think so. I’m picking up Pennsylvania.”

And as for those winning numbers?

“Because I’m seeing a cluster of middle of the road numbers….”

After scanning the field of numbers in his head, here is what Eddie came up with: “14, 21, 33, 42, and 47, and 17 is your Powerball number.”   

The winning numbers were 5, 25, 30, 58, 59 and the Powerball was 32.  Eddie was wrong on all counts.

Question two:  Why do media outlets continue to pay attention to these frauds and hucksters?

Lottery Sale Stymied

Pennsylvania's Attorney General rules that Corbett's attempt to sell off the lottery to an overseas company is illegal and violates the Commonwealth's constitution.

The attorney general described the conclusions of her office that the 20-year management agreement with Camelot Global Services PA LLC is an "unlawful extension of executive authority" that infringes on the power of the General Assembly to make basic policy decisions.

She said also state law governing the lottery does not authorize the development of monitor-based games, such as keno. And she said a provision for the compensation of indirect expenses by Camelot is too open and undefined to be allowed under the state Constitution.

Its a damn good thing that Democrats swept the state's row office elections, because that's the only check to King Tom weilding dictatorial power in the Commonwealth.  The fact that Republicans failed to win a single statewide election in 2012 doesn't bode to well for his chances at a second term, and adds more evidence that the only reason why Republicans control the state legislature is gerrymandering.

The British Are Coming! The British Are Coming!

Governor Bought-And-Paid-For is outsourcing the Pennsylvania Lottery to Camelot Global Services.

The question of course is "why?"  The lottery makes money hand over fist, and when being run by the state, there is no profit motive.  Once overhead costs are paid, all the proceeds goes towards programs benefitting the commonwealth's seniors.  That's amounted to nearly 20 billion dollars over 40 years, or a rough average of 500 million dollars a year.  Why would any sane person give up a cash cow like that?  There's only one compelling reason in my mind.  Corbett wants to smash a union.

I'd like to know what Camalot's "vig" for running the lottery is?