The Monday Morning Stimulus

 

 Yahoo, SC man stopped for coffee and left store a millionaire after hitting lottery jackpot

Stopping for a cup of coffee in Lexington County turned into a “life-changing” decision for a Midlands man who won a $2 million jackpot, South Carolina Education Lottery officials said.

The seven-figure scratch-off game was sold at the Stop N Go at 704 Old Barnwell Road, lottery officials said in a news release. The convenience store is in West Columbia, not far from the intersection of Emanuel Church Road and Platt Springs Road.

The winner said he scratched the Millionaire’s Club ticket he bought for $20 while sitting in his car in the convenience store’s parking lot, according to the release.

He told lottery officials that he couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw the “12” on the ticket matched for a prize that made him a millionaire.

Coffee! It can even make you rich!

The Wombat has Rule 5 Monday: Farm Girls up for your digital delight.

Cheat? Who, Me?

A Walleye for reference

A couple of good ones. First, from Nick Arama at Red State, Stunning Moment Cheating Scandal Allegedly Uncovered at Pro-Fishing Tournament

. . . the result in the Lake Erie Walleye Trail competition that occurred on Friday certainly captured my attention after it went viral because it had a bit of a shocking ending.

They were doing the weigh-in and they declared Jake Runyan and Chase Cominsky the winners based on the weight of the fish being the most.

But then the tournament director Jason Fischer must have had some suspicions because he decided to slice open the fish that the pair turned in. But that’s when he suddenly lost it and shouted that he had found weights in the fish.

The first video shows the moment of discovery, the second the reaction of Fischer and the other fishermen.

Some NSFW language: 

Busted! Also accused of cheating, at Da Mail, Pro poker player is accused of using 'hidden vibrating device' to help her win $130,000 hand: Gives money back to her opponent - but claims she was forced to hand it over 'in a dark hallway'

A pro poker player is alleging that his opponent 'clearly cheated' during a livestreamed game of poker after she returned her earnings to her opponent.

Garrett Adelstein has suggested that his female opponent, Robbi Jade Lew, could have cheated by using a 'device hidden that simply vibrates to indicate you have the best hand.'

Lew, meanwhile, says she was taken outside of the gambling hall and threatened in a 'dark hallway,' by Adelstein.

'Garrett blocked me. Guilty as charged. What an honest man. He cornered me & threatened me. If he has the audacity to give me the death stare ON camera, picture what it’s like OFF camera.'

Adelstein, 36, from Arizona, is a regular at the 24-hour Hustler Casino in California. He was playing a Texas hold'em game when he was stunned into silence by Lew, a relative newcomer.

Lew, 35, suddenly made a call to go all-in despite having a relatively poor hand, leaving Adelstein and observers agape.

Those commentating on the game were in disbelief because the odds were stacked against her with online betting casino DraftKings calculating there were around 150 ways for Lew to lose, but only six ways for her to win - which she proceeded to do.

Adelstein forced Lew to go all in with her $130,000 hand and appeared shocked as her cards revealed her to have a 'Jack high', winning the game and taking the entire $269,000 pot.

You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em.  This one is particularly amusing in light of recent accusations that a chess master has been beating opponents using signals beamed to a device secreted in his anus that buzzes to tell him what move to play. Buzz feed, A Conspiracy Theory About Anal Beads Is Only The Beginning Of A Chess Cheating Allegation.

Given high enough stakes, and insufficient scrutiny some people will cheat.

The Wombat has Late Night With Rule 5 Sunday: My Favorite Celtic Death Goddess awaiting your digital pleasure at The Other McCain.

Markets Betting Against Biden, America's Economic 'Bad Luck,'

Even on Memorial Day. Paul Bedard at WaEx finds Trump at ‘all-time high’ in 2024 betting, swamps Biden. The betting markets are about as accurate as the polls. Mike LaChance at LI thinks Joe Biden’s Presidency has Never Recovered From the Botched Withdrawal From Afghanistan, "Reports on Biden’s sinking numbers have become routine. But August of 2021 was the turning point." It certainly became obvious what we were in for at that point. According to The Wa Free Bee, Dems Keep Hoping Their Midterm Chances Are Getting Better. Election Forecasters Say They’re Wrong. At this point, I wonder if even a miracle, (or an extraordinary dirty trick) can save them. No one pays attention in summer; is there enough time in fall to pull it off, even with the full support of the media? I don't think so. 

Ross Douhat, the NYT's pet conservative (cited at Haut Hair) says The good news in Georgia is bad news for Trump. Max Greenwood atop Da Hill claims Republicans grow more aggressive in openly defying Trump. Chris Queen at PJ Media dismisses all the Sturm und Drang about the Georgia election, and Trumps sway. He thinks Georgia's Primary Demonstrates How Incumbency Mattered to Voters. Love the one you're with (doot, doot, doot, doot, doot, doot, doot, doot). 

From City Journal, Down with the Status Quo in Pennsylvania. "The Keystone State’s unresolved primary was a test of populism vs. moderation." Or maybe moderation in moderation. Ed Ring at Am Mind wonders if the California GOP is facing Permanent Irrelevance. Until they bring enough Hispanics on board, maybe. Pat Shanahan at Am Think considers the modern Democrat party in Uneasy Bedfellows. At WaEx, Trump allies step up efforts to oust Cheney. Strike at the king . . .

At the WaPoo, No evidence of exploitation of Dominion voting machine flaws, CISA finds, CISA being DHS Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Yes, I'm sure Joe Biden's DHS looked hard for evidence of election hacking, by Republicans. Shawn Fleetwood at Da Fed reports on how Wisconsin Voters Sue Democrat Cities Over Illegal Drop Boxes In 2020 Election. Not all cheating needs to be electronic. Rick Moran at PJ Media, Opponents of Georgia's Election Law: You'll Have to Wait Until November for the Voter Suppression. 

Grasping at straws, at WaEx, Nina Jankowicz claims disinformation board could have helped prevent mass shootings. 

At The Pipeline, Steve Hayward traces back, America's Economic 'Bad Luck' Began with Keystone and Tom Finnerty claims it's All Part of the Plan. At Breitbart, Senate Republicans, Democrats Rebuke Joe Biden, Janet Yellen: ‘Tariffs Are Not a Driver of Today’s Inflation’ From Da Caller, Every Time Biden Drained Strategic Oil Reserves, Prices Ended Up Higher. Here’s The Proof. It's pissing into the ocean, designed to look like he's doing something, when it's really too small to have any lasting effect. Politico wonders Gas prices are rising. So where are the electric cars? Do Democrats ever stop to think about where the electricity for electric cars might come from? Hint, it won't predominantly be wind and solar. From Alvaro Vargas  Llosa At Am Spec, Wind and Solar Will Have to Wait, "Inflation is putting many things on hold." Wa Ex, Households face being hit with shocking electric bills this summer. Andy May at Am Great has the answer to Why Does Boston Buy Natural Gas from Russia? "The environmental organizations have full veto power on all energy projects through the legal system." Lack of pipeline capacity. 

At LI, Leslie Eastman reminds us, Out-of-Stock Rates Surge to 70% for Baby Formula, and the "FDA chief Robert Califf admits his agency’s bureaucrats were ‘too slow’ to act." Just give the babies water; I'm sure they'll be OK. I&I says Militarizing The Baby Formula Crisis Is Infantile. 

Maryland, My Maryland

 WaPoo, Maryland launches lottery for vaccinated residents, with a $400,000 top prize

With vaccine demand dropping, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan is launching a $2 million lottery that will hand out dozens of $40,000 cash prizes to state residents who have received coronavirus vaccinations — along with a grand prize of $400,000.

Hogan (R) said daily drawings for a $40,000 prize will be held from Tuesday to July 3. On July 4, the $400,000 grand prize will be awarded via a random drawing.

All state residents 18 and older who received coronavirus vaccinations in Maryland will be eligible — regardless of when the shots were administered. No registration or entry is necessary.

“That’s 40 drawings over 40 days for the chance to win $40,000 each day,” Hogan said. “Entry is very simple. . . . Get your shot for a shot to win.”

The VaxCash lottery is the latest effort by Maryland to boost vaccination as the state tries to return to pre-pandemic normalcy. It is one of the largest cash incentives a state government has offered. This month, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) announced that he would offer five $1 million prizes to vaccinated state residents, along with four-year college scholarships for five vaccinated Ohioans younger than 18.

“Those of you who are still on the fence, there is no better time than now,” Hogan said outside the governor’s mansion in Annapolis, standing next to state lottery and health officials and a man in a Maryland lottery ball costume.

Each vaccinated Maryland resident will be randomly assigned a number in a system that will be maintained by the state Health Department, officials said. The state lottery agency will select a number each day during the promotion.

Winners will be contacted and have to provide written consent to accept the prize. They can remain anonymous but will be encouraged to share their stories.

State Lottery and Gaming Control Director Gordon Medenica called the effort “one of the most creative lottery promotions” his agency has ever done. He said officials are scrambling “on relatively short notice” to pull it together.

“This promotion is going to be good for the lottery, but much more importantly it is going to be good for the state of Maryland, because everybody is a winner if you get vaccinated,” Medenica said.

I'm already figuring out where to spend my money! $400 k buys a lot of boat!

Eh, there are worse uses for our money, and they'll probably find 'em. And it's working in Ohio. AllahPundit at Hot Hair, Oh yes: Adult vaccinations up 28% in Ohio since vaccine lottery was announced

Even those who can’t calculate probability deserve to live long, fulfilling, COVID-free lives.

It’s paying off, according to the Ohio Department of Health:

Since its announcement May 13, the Vax-a-Million campaign has helped drive an increase in vaccination rates among Ohioans 16 and older by more than 28 percent.

According to Ohio Department of Health data, vaccinations in those ages 16 and older:

Dropped by 25% the weekend of May 7 to May 10, compared to the weekend of April 30 to May 3.

Increased by 28% for the same age group from May 14 to May 17, the weekend following the announcement of the Vax-a-Million drawings.

A 53-point turnaround in a week.

An incentive like this is just enough to turn somebody who isn't really fearful of vaccine, but just doesn't have enough  fear of the disease to overcome the hassle of finding and getting the vaccine. Sure it seems like bribery, because it is. But it works. We spent billions to develop produce enough vaccines for all Americans; what's a few more bucks to promote it. At least this money won't go into the hands of some greasy nonprofit. 

The Wombat has Rule Five Sunday: She Comes From A Land Down Under published on time an under budget at The Other McCain.

Go Fish

Wombat-socho has "Rule 5 Sunday: Good Witches" ready for your Rule 5 pleasure at The Other McCain.

Coming Up Aces

NSFW language; he's a little excited.

Snookered!

By a little kid.

Betting on Beauty

It's true. A pretty girl makes men stupid.

Linked at Pirate's Cove in "Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup" and links. Wombat-socho is celebrating the break in the weather with "Late Night With Rule 5 Sunday: Spring Thaw?"