# Taking Bets on the powerball preacher **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 27, 2002, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-bets-on-the-powerball-preacher/145094 "2002-12-27T03:58:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Blueberry\_Buckle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3bc359/32.png) [@Blueberry\_Buckle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blueberry_Buckle)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-bets-on-the-powerball-preacher/145094/21 "2002-12-28T03:50:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FireWitch \* > \*\*…the recent powerball winner from pig knuckle depot W.Va. … > \*\* Since this is the pit, HEY YOU CRUD INFESTED BRAIN-DEAD HOG-HUMPING RECTUM HEAD, the correct town name is SCOTT Depot West Virginia (I grew up in the town, like it really means anything to anyone, anyway). If your going to rant, at least get the damn town your bitching about, correct. On another note, I have had the opportunity to meet this man on one occasion. I won’t go into details, but I assure you he seemed to be a genuinely nice, respectable person. ---
**Author:** ![FireWitch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e4f/32.png) [@FireWitch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FireWitch)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-bets-on-the-powerball-preacher/145094/22 "2002-12-28T04:06:26Z")
This, is great. For one person to type, for 19 people to respond, really gives one perspective, a better look into the power of the written word. Of course, I didn’t mean a word of what I wrote, though my poorly received and tepid attempt at comedy really riled a few of you. That alone is worth the price of admission here, and the reason in general these types of forums are great. Now for some of you, who at this foolish and sophomoric attempt at 43.5 seconds of written sketch comedy, unleashed your collective and unbridled fury, I cannot help but respond thusly… Fenris said: **Sooooo, from your OP, we can figure that you’re stupid AND jealous, FireBitch?** Well Fen, I doubt that the ‘we’ you speak of is any more than ‘you’ but I’ll humor you. 1. No, I am not stupid, my writings were, just as they were designed, yet I, thankfully am far from stupid. 2. Yes indeed I am a bit jealous, who wouldn’t like a free 315 million dollars, but the reality is that any jealous leanings I have did not fuel my writing. Firebitch? Please, let’s not throw stones about being stupid Fenris, an original attempt at an insult is appreciated more than you know. Sunglasses added… \*\* Thanks for moving this to the Pit, Gaudere, so I can tell the OP what freaking, bigoted moron he is. FireWitch, I live approximately ten miles from “Pig Knuckle” Depot, WV. This is NOT a state full of ignorant, incestuous, child molesting, bible thumping idiots, though we have our share like any other state (yours, maybe?) You ignorant ass! \*\* Agreed, GD was probably not the place for this post, my bad. SunglASSes, good for you, I hear Pig Knuckle Depot is beautiful this time of year. For the record, I never did say, no, not ever once, that your state was, and I quote “full of ignorant, incestuous, child molesting, bible thumping idiots” You said that. However I could point to several vital statistics for your fair state such as the WVA Dept. of Health and Human Services 1999 statistic that tells us that there were 23 children born to parents between 10 and 14 years of age, and in that same year, that number jumped to 889 children born to parents between 15 and 17 years of age. I could also point out that crime statistics for your state, versus those of a similar state, say Maine for instance, are considerably higher, to wit; 1999 saw a population in W.Va. of 1,808,344 while in Maine, the population was 1,253,040, this will illustrate the similarities. While there is a difference of 555,304 people, the statistics are unlikely to bear a markedly different result, though my thought process here is not even remotely scientific. examples: W.Va. in 1999 saw 6,336 violent crimes, with 79 murders, 337 forceable rapes, 749 robberies and 5259 aggravated assaults. Meanwhile, Maine in 1999 saw 1,404 violent crimes, with 25 murders, 239 forceable rapes, 243 robberies and 897 aggravated assaults. This, of course, is not scientific, but then I don’t really know if there is a scientific theory that could produce an accuate number of “ignorant, incestuous, child molesting, bible thumping idiots” that live in a state, much less what that states’ particular ‘share’ happens to be. Indeed, Illinois has it’s share of morons, fewer “ignorant, incestuous, child molesting, bible thumping idiots” and more drug dealing, gang-banging, carjacking idiots. Being from Chicago, I don’t see too many of the other variety. An ass? Me? Possibly. But ignorant? No, not even a little. **Missy2u** , See the the first paragraph. **Avalonian,** I don’t buy lottery tickets, generally, I consider them a tax on those with poor mathematic abilities, and please, try to refrain using ‘witch’ and ‘burning’ in the same sentence. 😃 At the end of it all though, I’m happy for Mr. Whittaker, though no where near as happy as I’d have been for a single mom with two kids and three jobs who WASN’T ALREADY A MILLIONAIRE!!! It does make me wonder though, if the winner is so anxious to help the poor, what has he done with his successful businesses to help the poor, aside from lay off some employees, and with his meager 117 million he hopes to “buy a helicopter, and maybe hire a few of them back” This is just a question, one I have not the answer for, though maybe someone does… ---
**Author:** ![Jurhael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cab0a1/32.png) [@Jurhael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurhael)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-bets-on-the-powerball-preacher/145094/23 "2002-12-28T04:13:54Z")
Hoo boy…I can see this thread go on for about four pages. What say you? ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-bets-on-the-powerball-preacher/145094/24 "2002-12-28T04:17:39Z")
So, basically you’re saying you’re a troll? ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-bets-on-the-powerball-preacher/145094/25 "2002-12-28T04:23:04Z")
All I’m going to say here, really, miss, is that more people like this man, and W. VA would be a much better place. Not that there aren’t a lot of them around. We see them, now and again. Usually when we need them. In disasters and terror. Until then, they’re just your next door neighbor. This man has shown the good, honest, even noble side of human nature in the even rarer case of a massive blessing upon one man. What’s he done to help the poor? Well, for one, sewage treatment is very important to prevent disease. For a second, he’s, from what I understand, a self-made millionaire. So he’s made a company for himself, which employs people, which stops them from being, well, poor. I’m not saying he’s perfect or anything. I don’t know the man. But I think this can certainly be a person I strongly respect. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-bets-on-the-powerball-preacher/145094/26 "2002-12-28T04:39:56Z")
Let’s see if I have this right, Firewitch: you posted an absolutely basis and prejudiced OP and are now griping when it’s pointed out to you that the OP’s absolutely basis and prejudiced. “Does that about sum it up?” ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-bets-on-the-powerball-preacher/145094/27 "2002-12-28T04:58:38Z")
Dratted misspellings. “basis” should be “baseless” in both instances in the previous posting. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-bets-on-the-powerball-preacher/145094/28 "2002-12-28T05:12:26Z")
Now I don’t wanna be dragged down into the abyss that witch created, but shouldn’t we wait until he actually DOES some of the stuff he mentioned that he’s gonna do before we start sucking him off? ---
**Author:** ![HelloKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@HelloKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKitty)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-bets-on-the-powerball-preacher/145094/29 "2002-12-28T05:48:30Z")
I would just like to take a moment to thank God for allowing me to pick the wrong numbers and thus causing me to LOSE the lottery… ---
**Author:** ![Splanky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@Splanky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Splanky)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-bets-on-the-powerball-preacher/145094/30 "2002-12-28T06:07:56Z")
> [@](#): > > there were 23 children born to parents between 10 and 14 years of age, and in that same year, that number jumped to 889 children born to parents between 15 and 17 years of age. Do you realize what you’re saying? You’re basically saying more post puberty teens get pregnant than pre-puberty teens. Are you in any way suprised that there are less pregnant ten year olds than pregnant teens at or near the age of consent? Most children in the first category can’t even get pregnant, let alone be in such position that may lead to pregnancy. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-bets-on-the-powerball-preacher/145094/31 "2002-12-28T06:14:24Z")
FireWitch’s defensive backpedalling reminds me of someting Johnny Carson said on _The Tonight Show_ a while back: “You can tell that you’re a cruel person by the numbers of times you have to say ‘I’m only kidding’.” Of course, in FW’s case, I’d go with “stupid” over “cruel”. ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-bets-on-the-powerball-preacher/145094/32 "2002-12-28T06:16:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Neurotik \* > \*\*So, basically you’re saying you’re a troll? \*\* Of the “it was a social engineering experiment aren’t I a genius” species. ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-bets-on-the-powerball-preacher/145094/33 "2002-12-28T08:18:26Z")
Well, let’s take a poll, If you had to choose, would you populate the area around where you live with people like Mr. Whittaker, or folks like Firewitch? Tris ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-bets-on-the-powerball-preacher/145094/34 "2002-12-28T08:59:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FireWitch \* > \*\*2. Yes indeed I am a bit jealous, who wouldn’t like a free 315 million dollars, \*\* Well, not free. He DID have to pay the $100 bucks for the tickets. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-bets-on-the-powerball-preacher/145094/35 "2002-12-28T09:00:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Stinkpalm \* > \*\*Now I don’t wanna be dragged down into the abyss that witch created, but shouldn’t we wait until he actually DOES some of the stuff he mentioned that he’s gonna do before we start sucking him off? \*\* Sucking him off???:eek::eek: :eek: :eek: ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-bets-on-the-powerball-preacher/145094/36 "2002-12-28T10:14:28Z")
The winner was from Scott Depot? Cool; I didn’t know that! I’ve got a grandmother and several other relatives in Scott Depot! Re. the OP, let’s all just keep quiet and watch him/her self-destruct… ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-bets-on-the-powerball-preacher/145094/37 "2002-12-28T14:22:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FireWitch \* > \*\*This, is great. For one person to type, for 19 people to respond, really gives one perspective, a better look into the power of the written word. Of course, I didn’t mean a word of what I wrote, though my poorly received and tepid attempt at comedy really riled a few of you. That alone is worth the price of admission here, and the reason in general these types of forums are great. > \*\* Congratulations: In one paragraph you’ve admitted to trollish behavior AND have used two of the standard [excuses](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=87747). At the same time. > [@](#): > > Excuse #2: _It Was An Experiment_: “As a trained sociologist, I designed my post with proper controls and safeguards such that I could delve into the psyches of the Teeming Millions and learn of their inner turmoil.” > > Excuse #3: _I Was Only Joking_: “When I said that I was _glad_ your kid had cancer and hope he dies, it was clearly meant to be funny. A joke. Get it? I guess you don’t have a sense of humor. :rolleyes:” That must be some new sort of record. Fenris ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-bets-on-the-powerball-preacher/145094/38 "2002-12-28T15:01:35Z")
> [@](#): > > what has he done with his successful businesses to help the poor, aside from lay off some employees, Ummm, maybe this didn’t occur to you, but I believe that what he has ‘done with his successful business’ is to employ people, keeping said people from being impoverished/jobless. And perhaps, by laying off some folks, he was keeping his business afloat and viable, thereby ensuring that it continued to supply _some_ jobs, and bring money into the area.:wally I must be pretty mellow. This is the very first time I think I’ve ever used that particular smiley. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-bets-on-the-powerball-preacher/145094/39 "2002-12-28T23:47:01Z")
> [@](#): > > Yes indeed I am a bit jealous Good! More fuel for your fire. [http://www.wtap.com/news/headlines/164881.html](http://www.wtap.com/news/headlines/164881.html) > [@](#): > > Vienna Powerball Winner! > Denise Alex > > While many people are still talking about Thursday’s biggest lottery winner out of Hurricane, WV, a Valley man is also making Powerball history. > > 20-year old Josh McClead of Vienna won West Virginia’s only $100,000 lottery prize. > > The winning Powerball ticket was bought at the Citgo station in Lubeck by Josh’s father Larry. > > The sophomore pre-pharmacy major at West Virginia University says he’ll use the winning money to pay off his education. [http://www.powerball.com/102602in.shtm](http://www.powerball.com/102602in.shtm) > [@](#): > > John & Elaine Higgins > October 26, 2002 > Indiana > > John Higgins of Evansville turned in his quick-pick Powerball ticket today to claim his $83.5 million jackpot. > > He and his wife of 41 years don’t have any major plans for the prize money except to help family members. They have three children and six grandchildren. Higgins is on special medications and has dialysis three times a week so this money will help with medical expenses. > > “Me and my eight brothers and sisters grew up in the depression,” Higgins explained. “Now I can make sure my grandchildren won’t have to know what that is like.” > > “We are excited for the family that we can leave something behind,” Elaine Higgins said. “But we aren’t too worked up. We aren’t going to do anything extravagant. I still plan on going around and turning off the lights.” > > Elaine Higgins even worked her double shift yesterday at the LSP nursing home. [http://www.borderlandnews.com/stories/borderland/20021228-58556.shtml](http://www.borderlandnews.com/stories/borderland/20021228-58556.shtml) > [@](#): > > Hobbs mom wins $100,000 Powerball prize > Associated Press > > HOBBS, N.M. – So Debbie Elliott wasn’t the big Christmas Powerball jackpot winner. > > But the struggling, single mother from Hobbs doesn’t mind. She had New Mexico’s only second-prize ticket worth $100,000. > > And the win couldn’t have come at a better time for Elliott, who works full-time as a nurse’s aide and also holds down a part-time job. > > “The day after Christmas was my 40th birthday,” she said. “It changed everything. It’s been a rough year.” > > Elliott said her first priority would be to repay her parents who bought her a car earlier this year after she lost her van in a fire and needed transportation to work. Then, she said, she plans to pay bills, buy cars for her kids and save the rest. > > Elliott also said she plans to keep her part-time job at the Yucca Bar. [http://www.powerball.com/032702la.shtm](http://www.powerball.com/032702la.shtm) > [@](#): > > Jerry Berggren & Cathy DeMuynck > > March 27, 2002 > > A self-employed Kenner man and his fiancée pulled up to the Louisiana Lottery corporate offices in a long white limousine Tuesday and left a short time later $17.7 million richer. > > Berggren, who operated his own appliance repair business, said after confirming that he had the winning numbers, “I said to myself, ‘Self, you’re no longer employed. You just retired.’” > > “We chose to take the lump sum rather than the annuity payment because I’m 54 and Cathy is 50, so we’re going to enjoy life from now on. We are through working and are now retired. We plan to spend some of the money and invest some. We also plan to make sure some of our family members are taken care of for life,” Berggren said. [http://www.powerball.com/022002nm.shtm](http://www.powerball.com/022002nm.shtm) > [@](#): > > Isabell & Rafael Delgado > February 20, 2002 > New Mexico > > The pair chose the lump-sum cash option payment of nearly $17.9 million before taxes. > > The couple has been married for 25 years. Mrs. Delgado works as a clerk typist for the City of Las Cruces’ Benavidez Community Center and plans to keep her job. Mr. Delgado had been employed by Raley’s Supermarket, until the California chain closed its Las Cruces stores last summer. He has since gone back to college at New Mexico State University and now plans to finish his degree in mechanical engineering technology. A more immediate plan looms, however. > > “We’re going to Disneyland,” Mrs. Delgado said. “I’ve promised my kids for years that when we had the money, or if I ever won the Lottery, I could afford to take them to Disneyland.” Her three children range in age from 16 to 29, and she also has grandchildren. Additionally, she plans to help her children buy homes. Her husband plans to invest as much of the prize as possible so that their children and grandchildren can attend college and to assure the family’s financial security. ---
**Author:** ![Jurhael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cab0a1/32.png) [@Jurhael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurhael)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-bets-on-the-powerball-preacher/145094/40 "2002-12-29T01:46:37Z")
OH WOWOOW!! That’s great for them! I’m happy for them, especially for the College Student and the one who has medical expenses! 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-bets-on-the-powerball-preacher/145094.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-bets-on-the-powerball-preacher/145094.md?page=3)