Miscellaneous Discussion Thread II
Quote: GenoDRPhQuote: AutomaticMonkeyQuote: GenoDRPhQuote: AutomaticMonkeyQuote: billryanAn interesting lotto lawsuit in Arizona.
A customer went into a Circle K and ordered $85 worth of lotto tickets. They only had $60 and left $25 worth of printed tickets behind.
After the drawing, it was learned that a $ 12.8 million ticket was sold at that location. The manager looks through the unsold tickets and finds the winner. He clocks out, takes off his uniform, and buys $10 worth of the unsold tickets. Arizona law doesn't allow on-duty employees to buy lotto tickets. Circle K found out the circumstances and seized the ticket. The law states that any unsold tickets belong to the owner of the machine that printed them, as do any winnings.
Circle K isn't claiming it owns the ticket; it's asking the judge to rule on ownership. The question seems to be, can you legally buy a lotto ticket after a drawing when you know you are a winner? The ticket must be claimed within 180 days of the November 2025 drawing.
Any opinions?
If the prize is unclaimed, about half is donated to a group of charities, and the other half is added back into the lotto pool.
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How did Circle K seize the ticket? Once the employee knew he had the ticket he can punch out, write "resigned" on his time card and buy the ticket, walk out and never look back.
The only pitfall I see is there would have to be another employee there to accept payment for the ticket. If he puts the money in the till himself he's acting as an on-duty employee and can't buy the ticket, and if he leaves without paying he stole the ticket and can't win. But if Circle K took the ticket from him in some involuntary way they stole the ticket and can't win.
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News reports state another employee, the next day, processed the disputed sale.
If, by operation of law Circle K owned the ticket, and this manager did not have Circle K permission to buy the already winning ticket from Circle K, then the ticket belongs to Circle K. I don't see how the manager can make any kind of successful argument he had any right or privilege to purchase the winning ticket at any time.
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The rule Bill mentioned prohibits only on-duty employees from buying tickets. If he's hourly, once he punches out he's no longer on duty.
Totally off topic: I had an employer in my youth that made you punch out for your lunch break, but also didn't allow you to leave the building for your lunch break.
I told them that once I punch out you are not paying me, which means I can leave the building, somersault across the street, climb a tree, strip off all my clothes and bunny-hop around the park if I choose, because you are not paying me. Big dispute, and I thought about a lot of nefarious things I could do but I just rage-quit.
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Once he is off duty, he can have a coworker go over to the lottery terminal and generate de novo as many tickets he is willing to pay for. But nothing, absolutely nothing, permits or authorizes him to purchase a pre-generated ticket, already in play, that lawfully belongs to Circle K, especially after the drawing has been done.
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Circle K has to pay for every ticket printed. If someone ordered 85 tickets but ended up paying for only 60, CK is on the hook for $25 and may well have a policy of requiring employees to try and sell these tickets. Buying a winning ticket after the drawing is a couple of bridges too far.
https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2026/02/22/controversy-erupts-after-man-with-tourette-syndrome-shouts-n-word-at-michael-b-jordan-delroy-lindo-during-baftas/
I believe in hiring those with disabilities, and we should be able to hire people with this problem to attend certain events.
Your enemy's funeral: "He croaked! He croaked! The @&#$?&! croaked!'
Your friend's wedding: "Don't do it, she's a @&#$?&!!"
Boring meetings: "@&#$?&! you all, you look like a bunch of @&#$?&!!"
Seriously- I don't believe in this. I think these people have mental illness that fills them with bad thoughts, they blurt out the words associated with the bad thoughts, and over time it becomes a maladaptive behavior in response to whatever else is wrong with them. I've seen crazy people walking around yelling and cursing at everyone, but we don't call that a syndrome and a person who would be accommodated in civilized company. That's just a nut who belongs in the nuthouse.
[my emphasis]Quote:googlebot:
Coprolalia
, the involuntary uttering of inappropriate words or obscenities, typically manifests in childhood as a symptom of Tourette syndrome, with symptoms often decreasing with age. While it rarely develops for the first time in adulthood, it can emerge as a symptom of certain neurological conditions, such as brain injuries, dementia, or encephalitis.
"AI Overview
On average, approximately 5 to 10 climbers die on Mount Everest every year, with the total death toll exceeding 330 since 1921. While fatalities were historically lower, increased crowding and severe weather have led to higher numbers recently, such as 18 deaths in 2023. The mortality rate is roughly 1% for those attempting to climb above Base Camp.
many bodies remain on the mountain due to extreme, life-threatening conditions, high recovery costs and risks to rescuers. These frozen remains often serve as landmarks in the "death zone" (above 8,000m)"
I guess they love it and probably even love the risk that goes long with it
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There is probably a life lesson by analogy - about not being too goal-oriented. You can destroy yourself in the process of making your goal.
Quote: gordonm888I was a high-altitude mountaineer in my 20s and 30s - although I stuck to the peaks of South America. What most people don't realize is that a very large fraction of the deaths in mountaineering occur when you are descending after the ascent. Exhaustion is an obvious reason. Also, when you are near a summit there is a tendency to keep going even if you are behind schedule or even if you see bad weather coming from a distance. The result is that descending climbers often get overtaken by darkness or by storms.
There is probably a life lesson by analogy - about not being too goal-oriented. You can destroy yourself in the process of making your goal.
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I seem to remember a scene from Gattaca, where one character explained that the reason he could accomplish a feat (while another could not) is that he wasn't reserving any energy for the trip back to safety.
Quote: rxwineCouldn't he just have held the winning ticket until almost expiration day? You don't turn a million dollar ticket into the store you bought it from. By that time he could be long gone. Not all lotteries make you ID yourself to the public when you cash in.
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No, but you have to ID yourself to the lottery commission. If he wanted to get away with this, there were better ways. But he most likely would've gotten caught.
Quote: gordonm888I was a high-altitude mountaineer in my 20s and 30s - although I stuck to the peaks of South America. What most people don't realize is that a very large fraction of the deaths in mountaineering occur when you are descending after the ascent. Exhaustion is an obvious reason. Also, when you are near a summit there is a tendency to keep going even if you are behind schedule or even if you see bad weather coming from a distance. The result is that descending climbers often get overtaken by darkness or by storms.
There is probably a life lesson by analogy - about not being too goal-oriented. You can destroy yourself in the process of making your goal.
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30 years ago I was into long hikes and coming down a steep incline is far more dangerous than going up. You have to constantly watch what you're doing at all times because your center of gravity is screwed up. It's extremely easy to fall.
Quote: rxwineCouldn't he just have held the winning ticket until almost expiration day? You don't turn a million dollar ticket into the store you bought it from. By that time he could be long gone. Not all lotteries make you ID yourself to the public when you cash in.
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The lottery commission notifies the retailer who sold the ticket because they get a large payout for selling it. Circle K may have reviewed the tapes for the date and time of the sale and reported something nefarious.
Slot RTP being lowered from 94%-95% to 92% over the years does mean the machines are ridiculously tighter.
Quote: DRichQuote: rxwineCouldn't he just have held the winning ticket until almost expiration day? You don't turn a million dollar ticket into the store you bought it from. By that time he could be long gone. Not all lotteries make you ID yourself to the public when you cash in.
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The lottery commission notifies the retailer who sold the ticket because they get a large payout for selling it. Circle K may have reviewed the tapes for the date and time of the sale and reported something nefarious.
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This feels like it should fall under the "unjust enrichment" doctrine. Circle K did nothing to deserve $12.6 million, and the manager violated the spirit of the law, if not the law itself. I'd void the ticket if I had the authority. I'd sentence the manager to working midnights at the CK until he reimburses the company for the lost bonus from the voided ticket.
Does the seller get the bonus if the ticket is never claimed? That would suck.
Quote: billryanTucson Airport has seen a 31% increase in arriving passenger flights since 2024, but only a 6% increase in actual passengers. It's hard to reconcile those figures.
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It can be reconciled if they went from flying large planes into Tucson and are now flying smaller ones. Very unlikely. I doubt they were flying Airbus A380's with 600 passengers and are now flying ERJ-145's with 60 passengers. I have flown into Tucson on a Southwest 737 but I do not recall how full the flight was.
Quote: billryanTucson Airport has seen a 31% increase in arriving passenger flights since 2024, but only a 6% increase in actual passengers. It's hard to reconcile those figures.
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People travel by passenger flights because they need to get somewhere - because they want to visit someone or for business or for vacation. Just because carriers double their flights doesn't mean that people want to travel in and out of Tucson twice as often.
If your local grocery store decides to double the amount of bananas in their produce section does that mean that you will decide to eat twice as many bananas? Or that twice as many people will shop at the grocery?
Quote: DRichQuote: rxwineCouldn't he just have held the winning ticket until almost expiration day? You don't turn a million dollar ticket into the store you bought it from. By that time he could be long gone. Not all lotteries make you ID yourself to the public when you cash in.
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The lottery commission notifies the retailer who sold the ticket because they get a large payout for selling it. Circle K may have reviewed the tapes for the date and time of the sale and reported something nefarious.
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My nearby Circle K has 8 camera bubbles in the ceiling in just the 10 ft area around the register. Probably all real, but possibly not.
for several years I'm done fast walking every single day for about 45 minutes
recently I've upped my game
I now do something called "jeffing" - mixing walking and running
I'm not going to set any records
but it's definitely a superior workout
it feels really good
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"AI Overview
Yes, "jeffing" is named after US Olympian and running coach Jeff Galloway, who popularised the run-walk-run method in the 1970s to reduce injuries, fatigue, and make running more sustainable. It involves taking scheduled walking breaks, often starting from the very beginning of a run, rather than waiting until exhaustion.
Key Aspects of Jeffing:
Origin: Created by Jeff Galloway in 1973/1974 for beginner runners.
Methodology: Alternating between set running intervals and short walking intervals (e.g., run 3 minutes, walk 1 minute).
Benefits: Reduces injury, prevents burnout, allows for faster recovery, and can lead to faster race times.
Popularity: The term gained significant traction, particularly in the UK and on social media, as a friendly, accessible way to approach running.
Galloway has stated he is honored to have his name used as a verb for this method, which is designed to make running more enjoyable and less painful. "
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you would think with all of the cameras out there, and cellphones that can be easily tracked, and with all the tech out there that this wouldn't be the case
but obviously, law enforcement is still not able to effectively resolve a respectable % of homicides
"AI Overview
According to FBI 2023 data, the homicide clearance rate—the percentage of murders resulting in an arrest or being otherwise solved—was approximately 58%, meaning nearly 42% to 50% of all US murders go unsolved.
This rate indicates that nearly half of all homicides in the U.S. do not lead to an arrest.
Declining Rates: The clearance rate has dropped significantly from decades ago when it was closer to 70%.
Regional Differences: In some major cities, such as Chicago, the rate of solved cases is much lower, often in the 30% to 40% range.
Causes for Unsolved Cases: Experts attribute the low clearance rate to a lack of police resources, distrust in law enforcement, an increase in stranger-to-stranger homicides, and the use of "ghost guns".
Historical Context: Since 1965, more than 340,000 cases of homicide and non-negligent manslaughter have gone unsolved in the U.S..
The rate of unsolved murders in the U.S. remains high compared to other countries, with some studies indicating that 51% to 52% of killings went unsolved in recent years. "
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and how many are they 90% sure of but won't say it's certain
the ones committed by strangers are where they may not have any idea who did it
Quote: odiousgambitWhat is unknowable are the % of murders the investigators feel they have solved, but can't get the prosecutors to go forward because there isn't enough physical evidence
and how many are they 90% sure of but won't say it's certain
the ones committed by strangers are where they may not have any idea who did it
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Most murders are by someone close to the victim and solved within days. Random murders are rare.
a couple of days ago during the big snow in NYC crowds pelted police officers with snowballs
2 officers were injured with head and face injuries
the Mayor of NY, Mamdani downplayed the incident
the PBA saw it differently, they stated:
“This was not just a ‘snowball fight,’” the PBA said in a statement. “This was an assault — by adults throwing chunks of ice and rocks — that landed two police officers in the hospital with head and face injuries.”
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/krLGeEKHA84
https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/24/us/mamdani-at-odds-with-police-after-officers-injured-in-snowball-fight
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Quote: lilredrooster.
The rate of unsolved murders in the U.S. remains high compared to other countries, with some studies indicating that 51% to 52% of killings went unsolved in recent years.
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A department that has a high rate of solved cases might not be what you want either if the work is sloppy. A whole bunch of cases were overturned because a person in the FBI lab was fabricating results. Then you have people right at the ground level and their misconduct that leads to false convictions.
Quote: SOOPOOA lot depends on what is considered a ‘solved’ case. Was the murder of Ron Goldman a ‘solved case’? To me it was, even though no one was convicted.
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Ron Goldman's murder, officially, is an unsolved case-nobody has been convicted of that crime.
My guess is crimes are "solved" when we get a conviction.
Quote: avianrandyI always thought howard Johnson's was a hotel chain. Tonight they were talking about it being a restaurant and their 28 flavors of ice cream. I know Baskin Robbins had 31 flavors lol
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As I recall, they had Jacques Pepin developing their menu and doing training - way back when. Clam strips were popular.
Hotels used to have actual restaurants, not just a waffle maker in the lobby.
Quote: avianrandyI always thought howard Johnson's was a hotel chain. Tonight they were talking about it being a restaurant and their 28 flavors of ice cream. I know Baskin Robbins had 31 flavors lol
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Oh yeah, man! All you can eat fried fish and clams on Wednesday and Friday night too.
Unfortunately, due to a combination of their being open 24 hours and usually with a motel attached, and often in isolated areas along highways, it also became a traditional meeting place for those looking for certain reprehensible and unnatural acts.
Quote: avianrandyI always thought howard Johnson's was a hotel chain. Tonight they were talking about it being a restaurant and their 28 flavors of ice cream. I know Baskin Robbins had 31 flavors lol
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Before there was fast food, there was Howard Johnson's. They were everywhere, with over a thousand locations. They were famous for their fried clams and ice cream. I think a bunch had hotels attached to them but I never stayed at one. The all-you-can-eat fried clams helped stretch many a spring break budget.
my neighbor was a manager for hojos and he had cases of the soda. I actually liked the grape a little bitQuote: odiousgambitWorst cola ever made was a HoJo brand. So incredibly bad that it possibly was short-lived.
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Quote: avianrandyThe worst soda I ever tasted was holt.2x the caffeine it tasted horrible. Remind me of new coke or coke 2 whatever you want to call it
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Aww man, I loved the metallic tang and cloying sugary sweetness of Jolt.
Drop an Oreo into the bottom of a glass, put just enough milk in the glass to cover the cookie, then microwave it for 45 seconds. The cookie absorbs the milk and transforms into ambrosia.
I went to my page looking for something else and noticed an invite to save $20 a month for 4 months by clicking a box. My sister looked and had $10 off for three months. I'm not sure what the point is, or why they are not publishing the discounts but they are worth looking for.
Quote: billryanCame across the best hack ever. I wish I could somehow send this to myself in the past.
Drop an Oreo into the bottom of a glass, put just enough milk in the glass to cover the cookie, then microwave it for 45 seconds. The cookie absorbs the milk and transforms into ambrosia.
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I am going to try that. I probably haven't had an Oreo in over 15 years, yet for some reason my wife just bought a pack of them.
Quote: DRichQuote: billryanCame across the best hack ever. I wish I could somehow send this to myself in the past.
Drop an Oreo into the bottom of a glass, put just enough milk in the glass to cover the cookie, then microwave it for 45 seconds. The cookie absorbs the milk and transforms into ambrosia.
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I am going to try that. I probably haven't had an Oreo in over 15 years, yet for some reason my wife just bought a pack of them.
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It's kismet.
Quote: DRichQuote: billryanCame across the best hack ever. I wish I could somehow send this to myself in the past.
Drop an Oreo into the bottom of a glass, put just enough milk in the glass to cover the cookie, then microwave it for 45 seconds. The cookie absorbs the milk and transforms into ambrosia.
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I am going to try that. I probably haven't had an Oreo in over 15 years, yet for some reason my wife just bought a pack of them.
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I love the diet that you guys eat, how much effort you put into maintaining your young boyish appearance and graceful figure.
Quote: GenoDRPhQuote: SOOPOOA lot depends on what is considered a ‘solved’ case. Was the murder of Ron Goldman a ‘solved case’? To me it was, even though no one was convicted.
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Ron Goldman's murder, officially, is an unsolved case-nobody has been convicted of that crime.
My guess is crimes are "solved" when we get a conviction.
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You are correct from the legal standpoint. Not the SOOPOO standpoint!
What happens if a guy rapes and murders some poor girl, but the prosecutor lets him plea to just the rape? Is the murder still unsolved since no one was convicted of the murder?
Quote: SOOPOOQuote: GenoDRPhQuote: SOOPOOA lot depends on what is considered a ‘solved’ case. Was the murder of Ron Goldman a ‘solved case’? To me it was, even though no one was convicted.
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Ron Goldman's murder, officially, is an unsolved case-nobody has been convicted of that crime.
My guess is crimes are "solved" when we get a conviction.
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You are correct from the legal standpoint. Not the SOOPOO standpoint!
What happens if a guy rapes and murders some poor girl, but the prosecutor lets him plea to just the rape? Is the murder still unsolved since no one was convicted of the murder?
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It also has to be proven that it was a murder. Not always certain, especially with certain stupid lifestyles involved where people are always somewhere in the vicinity of death on a good day.
Same for the rape for that matter and in a lot of environments a claim is more likely to be phony than not. I don't know if you can call it an "unsolved rape" when it's doubtful there was any rape to begin with. Maybe he just didn't call her the next day, I don't know.
Quote: odiousgambitWhat is unknowable are the % of murders the investigators feel they have solved, but can't get the prosecutors to go forward because there isn't enough physical evidence
and how many are they 90% sure of but won't say it's certain
the ones committed by strangers are where they may not have any idea who did it
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In the cities, I expect a good deal of murderers end up getting killed themselves. If your main suspect is dead, it's hard to get a conviction.
Quote: lilredrooster.The rate of unsolved murders in the U.S. remains high compared to other countries, with some studies indicating that 51% to 52% of killings went unsolved in recent years.
Quote: SOOPOOA lot depends on what is considered a ‘solved’ case. Was the murder of Ron Goldman a ‘solved case’? To me it was, even though no one was convicted.
it's quite ridiculous to point to the Goldman case as a meaningful example of homicides in the U.S.
tons of time and resources were spent on that case because of who the suspect was and the incredible amount of publicity
it is atypical - and not relevant to the discussion of homicides - which typically involve someone in the projects who is gunned down
the police then spend only a limited amount of time and resources investigating it
police will spend more time investigating a homicide of a middle class or well off person
but still nowhere near the time and effort that was spent on the Goldman case
and there are many fewer of these types of cases
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I asked a judge I know about this. He told me that no one wants to conduct a trial for rape - - it's a terrible experience for the victim and their family. And the court system is overloaded. So defense attorneys all learn to plea bargain the case down to sexual assault - a shorter prison term (usually 1-3 years) but you are on the sex offender registry for life where law enforcement can keep track of you. Everyone wins - the criminal, the courts, the victim and their family, and the cops.
right now there is another atypical case out there - the disappearance, which most now believe, sadly, is probably yet another unsolved homicide
Nancy Guthrie is 84 and has been missing for about a month
law enforcement - local, State and Federal, have spent a tremendous amount of time, money and resources on the case because she is the mother of a well known TV personality
I have a great deal of sympathy for Ms. Guthrie and her family
but many including myself have to wonder if it's right or fair that law enforcement, who is Governmental, pays so much more attention to some victims because of who they are or who their family is then they do to others
that's just the way of the world
if you're a nobody the cops aren't going to knock themselves out trying to get you justice
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