Winning and Losing over Lottery Tickets

Yesterday I purchased a lottery ticket though it's not habitual. As the vendor came near, a kind of yes-no decision situation followed and I made up the mind to pick one, quite almost sure that this one won't be the winning ticket... still... the imaginative brain half sets eye at the top prize. This is the human scenario where knowing that there are lower chance to win, mind is tempted into the greed and hope involved in playing a chance game. Numbers, luck, probability, what would you call it?

I used to love Probability Theory while learning mathematics. Lottery ticket draw is a real life application of probability. The lottery numbers are formed out of what we call Permutations and Combinations of letter and number series that we learnt in our high school maths text books. Such knowledge makes it sound like a more calculative game than an intuitive one. Observe the number series, and you will know how lottery distribution is a planned process and not just a random all-for-chance event. Number series is planned such that winners from different geographical points get equal chance it win, so that the process of winning is more evenly distributed. This does not mean the winning number is already pre-planned and it's a fake game. I meant, the lot picking process is arranged in such a way that even the winning numbers are evenly distributed so that winning is not concentrated around consecutive or adjacent numbers alone. Observe lottery draw results and you see all these points stand true

Each one of all the tickets sold has an equal chance to win or lose the best prize. And this of course is a toooooo small percentage chance considering the largeness of number of tickets that are sold in total. Thus after the draw, for all buyers except the lucky one the chance of winning the first prize is 0. This is only for the best prize. Chances to win are lower when prize is for distinct ticket numbers alone. Mostly this is the pattern for second and third prizes

For the further prizes that only need a series that ends with particular numbers (e.g., 2716)  vs. a distinct ticket number (e.g., KD 48 2716), chance to win a prize for a player improves considering all the players in total. This is because the lot taking is planned for smaller prizes such that more players from distinct locations get a prize evenly. Also it is easy to note that the percentage chance for players to win smaller prizes is higher compared to the top prizes. Probability also explains why a person who buys some tickets together has higher chances to win a prize than a single ticket buyer. Still it could turn out that the single ticket buyer wins while the bulk buyer loses. Thinking further high, and if good in such maths you can reach an answer on how to ensure a prize 100% over buying bulk tickets together and intelligently. It is only that be calculative on what you spend and what is received. Nobody wants to play riskier for a heavier loss

The fun in a lottery is the excitement of the mind between a pessimistic and optimistic pendulum till the moment of the result. Mind sometimes enjoys the strange state of uncertainty, when it does not have an answer to a problem and so has the freedom to imagine, fluctuate and re-imagine a high gain or loss situation all in the difference of seconds. I admit I lost the game this time, while also having received the momentary enjoyment of winning the biggest cash in my imagination. So, lotteries are a ticket to paid imagination to confidently dream high even while you are about to lose more probably

Driverless Cars vs. Cars so Far

I came across a Sunday special news item on Google driverless cars and how technology awaits to link a search engine to a car engine. There were interesting examples like a business executive saving time for his last minute presentation preparations, an old couple who can't find a driver easily explaining target location to the Navigator, and newly weds enjoying their time inside the car without any driver to disturb their privacy. Appreciable, it would be a boon to some who are not good drivers all the time: those with psychiatric disorders, epilepsy or a problematic heart, and all the drunken drivers who can't manage it well after their hour of celebration. Easy conversations, mobile or music with this hands-free driver technology while Google ensures safety

I have taken trips with professional drivers, they enjoy this job and score well at the art of driving. Driving demands quick decisions, handling fraction-of-a-second surprises from other road users, all this while talking and listening goes on inside a car. I am not so good at this, hence have a heartfelt appreciation for all good drivers. Many drivers are interesting talkers, if not they are tremendous listeners. It would feel nice to have a human company except for those who prefer absolute privacy. Driverless cars offer whole privacy and freedom, while a driver would offer a human presence for those who need it

Dairy Milk Silk :: the 'Silk' experience

The Cadbury's Silk chocolate claims for itself a Silk Experience. The writing on the outer paper wrap over the golden chocolate covering quite tantalised my mouth. Giving the reader a mouthwatery sensation just through a write-up would have been a challenge for the writer. The wordings invite you to be a part of the wonderful 'Silk' experience. It says, the dome shaped cube of Silk chocolate ensures that the fine, silken texture and creaminess of Silk never goes unnoticed. True that the shape is cubical vs. flat, and hence suits the tongue. The best part of the description is " when the finest chocolate spreads to every corner of your mouth, caressing your senses along the way, we would have succeeded in enhancing our Cadbury Dairy Milk experience". The reading as well as the chocolate are an enhancing experience. Silk chocolate compares to the large Dairy Milk that our friend bought from Malaysia. That means chocolate manufacturers set varying standards for different nations. Normal Indian Dairy Milk does not have that much of a silken texture or creaminess and it's flatter, so not as much a tongue-tantaliser

Sheets that Greet :: Bedsheet as a Gift

Choosing a gift for our most special ones on their memorable occasions is a tough task. I'm personally fond of  fresh colored bedsheets. Recently I thought over its possibilities as a gift.

Mother gifted me bedsheets all my life, some with flora, some with funny animals and cartoons, even after I grew up. Her favorites are stripes, and the latest pink one with a dot pattern transformed my room on my birthday.

Bedsheet sounds like a very apt wedding gift, quite appealing to the bride and groom on their important day. Also, a very good choice for someone in a long distance relationship. This is so because bedsheet indicates nearness, comfort, love and passion for the receiver from his/her dear one, at sleep time, especially at a distant place where they can't see or sense each other.

It is better to know the right bed size before a purchase to avoid the sheet being longer or shorter than the bed.
Also, sheet should complement or contrast the room's color smartly. Doesn't matter if the person who uses it simply loves the possession and finds it comforting. Sheets do give an unexplainably intimate warmth

Systematic Dishwashing :: To Hell with the Smell !

Right now I am at home and in full charge of dishwashing. I do it with hands and not dishwasher. Now, is there a better way to make this nasty work more systematic? O yes, this is what I do:

Keeping a spoonful of liquid dishwash gel lather ready before starting is my primary step. Liquid gels work better with hands than dishwash bars: I have a sensitive hand, which finds even the mildest soaps painful. I also have 2 types of scrubs, the scrub sponge and a harder scrub all for different kitchenware

When I start with, it's all a mess and a lot smelly as well. Ops! The way to minimise smelly situations is to wash off anything in a dish with plain water immediately while sinking it and thus prepare it to get washed at a later time. I do this to save myself of the yucky smells

Then, of course, the mess! Kitchen utensils come in haphazdardly confusing forms and sizes together into the sink. I usually have 2 types of kitchenware sinked in: the cleaner ones, plates, bowls, cups and all other tableware and the second type is the scary part, the oily, tiring cooking utensils that often account for the tough time for someone dishwashing. Those that cooked chicken, fish, egg, or milk... each is a nightmare in its own way

First, I start with the glassware/ceramics for safe handling and to avoid breakage by heavier items.Then the cutlery. I always keep another washed dish/plate or anything that can hold such smaller items on the side so I can transfer them all together to the storage area while the extra water will have dripped off. This saves walking. I attempt on the tougher and larger vessels only after the smaller, cleaner ones are done with. This is the more intelligent way to do it so that my cups don't get fishy smells

Next are the daily use plastics, the plates, mugs and storage boxes. Seems much easier when I have such a system brought into the task. It's fun even while in a hell of smell ! Grouping similar items helps washing as well as tranferring

Finally, one by one, I deal with the cookware. At my sink it's the milk boiler's turn first, followed by the vegetarian-ware and only finally the egg-ware, the chicken-ware and the fish-ware all in that order. Just a bit of thinking will reveal why I chose that as the best order. While on the nasty-ware I would use the harder scrub first, wash off further smells down the sink, and then only use the scrub sponge on the after-cleaned vessels else the sponge gets non-veggie for the next dishwash on say drinking glass

I try to systematise it to an extent, yet fear my next dishwashing session coming up... God save !!!