$50 Million Lottery Win

13 workers in Alberta won almost 50 million dollars in a recent 649 Lottery in Canada. Each received a share of $3.8 million.There was a lot of buzz. I found some statements made by people were rather amusing and untrue.

A winner, when being asked on what she would do with so much money, said she would buy some new shoes. Nothing wrong with the answer really, but did she appreciate that it was a big question ? One would expect a big answer to a big question, like using the money to purchase a new car or a new home, pay off a mortgage, pursue an education, travel to see the world, give a helping hand to friends and family, start a new business or creative project, or do some charitable work and so on. Instead, it was a small one-item answer about buying some new shoes, and nothing else! Perhaps, it had not sunk in yet for her, that she had really won the lottery, when she gave her small one-item answer to the big question. Certainly she would not have meant to use the whole $3.8 million to buy some shoes and nothing else. I mean $3.8 million can buy a lot of shoes, my friend !!!

A co-worker who was not part of the winning thirteen said he was glad that they won, and not him. He said they needed the money more than him. Really ? While he would be happy for the winners, like many of us do, did he really mean it, when he said that he was glad that they won, and not him ? Would it be more believable if he said he was happy for the winners, but wished that he also won? Lottery players may not all need the jackpot and big money, but would any player play to lose and wish somebody else won instead? I mean everybody would wish to win the lottery, or something, including those who did not even purchase a ticket. Who wants to be a loser and not a winner ? " I wish I was part of the lucky winning team " would be a more believable and sincere statement than " I am glad that I am a loser and non-participant, and someone else won ".

One person said "with that kind of money, the winners can do anything they're damn pleased". It made me laugh. See, you can say $3.8 million for one person is a lot of money, but you can also say that it is not that much. Everything is relative. As my good friend Willie says, hey, it all depends on what kind of lifestyle you want. To the super wealthy like Bill Gates and other billionaires, $3.8 million is only a small amount. To an average worker who suddenly won $3.8 million, it is indeed a lot of money, but to say that you can do or get anything you want with the money is definitely untrue. There are non-material things which you cannot buy with money, like true love, self-worth and happiness. For material things, the luxurious items, I'm afraid to say that $3.8 million is such a small amount that it can kill your ' I am so rich' feeling in no time.

Think about this: Canadian $3.8 million is about U.S. $3.3 million. Oops, you have just lost half a million dollars ! Do you want to buy a private 747 Boeing Jet ? That will cost you US $200 million. Want to go to space and become a space tourist ? It will cost you US$20 million.

Well, forget about the sky, you just want to stay on the ground, right ? Do you want to buy the beautiful 123 rooms L.A. Mansion from Candy Spelling ? Her asking price is US$150 million. Let's say she will give you 50% discount, the greatest half-price deal you can ever get. It will still cost you US $75 million.

Oh you have decided to do some traveling first, and purchase a home later. Want to go to Hong Kong, Dubai, New York, Las Vegas and Paris ? Where else ? Oh, you are now a millionaire, so you want to stay in a first-class luxurious hotel room ? Fine, that will cost you US$6,000 to US $25,000 a night.

The trip is over. Now you want to buy a home. You think Candy Spelling's mansion on sale is beyond your reach. You want something cheaper. Well, in the major cities, that will cost you at least a million dollars, I mean a decent home for a millionaire. Oh, you have changed your mind now, you don't want to purchase, you want to rent an apartment instead ? Want to live in the Joyce Apartment in Barcelona ? That will cost you US $125,000 a month. Is there anything cheaper ? Try the Pacific Place in Hong Kong. It will cost you only US $63,500 a month.

The approximate dollar figures I am giving you here may not be current and accurate, but that's O.K. You probably have got the point I wanted to make, which, as I said earlier, is this: there are things which money cannot buy, like true love, self-worth and happiness. As for material things, as my good friend Willie says, it all depends on the lifestyle you want. Therefore, again, you can say that $3.8 million is a lot of money, but you can also say that it is not that much. It all depends !!!!

Good luck to you !!!

Fast Edi

Raelians won, Journal de Montreal lost

Raelians have won an invasion of privacy court battle against Journal de Montreal in Quebec, Canada. This is good news not only to the Raelians, but also to other religious minorities, faith and spiritual groups, and people concerned with freedom of belief, invason of privacy and human rights. Certainly the Raelians are celebrating.

The judge, Charles Grenier's understanding, in summary, about what Rael and the Raelian Movement are all about is very good. No bias, no prejudice, no stupidity:

"Let's simply remember that Rael, who was born in France, claims to be the product of the union of an Eloha, a member of family of extra-terrestrials, the Elohim, and an Earthling, and that after having received the good word (from the Elohim), who presented themselves to him at the beginning of his adult life, he gave himself the mission of preparing the Elohims' return to Earth and creating favorable conditions for humans on Earth for their eternal care by them".

Intrusive journalism, particularly of the sneaky and dishonest reporters, by using false identity, bad motives and clandestine methods to get and release information, which violates people's privacy is simply wrong.

Nowadays, the media don't seem to care too much about facts, people's privacy, and freedom of belief. They tend to dramatize and sensationalize the stories, the news, in order to attract the readers or viewers, to make sales. The objective seems to be making money, not about news reporting.

There is a big difference between the release of already public information to the public, and
the release of private pictures, information and data to the public without the approval of the private owner(s).

The media, especially the mainstream media, should learn to become more ethical, professional and fair in their news reporting, instead of giving everything a negative spin and distortion. News reporting should be factual, truthful, balanced and professional. It is not fiction writing.

Obama and Bush Mess

Yes, it is tough for Obama to clean up the Bush mess, but Bush and gang must be prosecuted or pardoned, for all the laws they have broken, otherwise the integrity of the US Presidency and good old image of America to the world could never be restored.

This Bush-it must be dealt with, not pushed aside or ignored. One cannot move forward until and unless the shit of the past has been cleaned up or properly dealt with.