Comments on: I Hate the Lottery http://toshuo.com/2006/i-hate-the-lottery/ Chinese, Linguistics, Science, Cultural Observations and whatever else I feel like writing about Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:31:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Mark http://toshuo.com/2006/i-hate-the-lottery/comment-page-1/#comment-109941 Mark Thu, 06 Dec 2007 18:50:17 +0000 http://toshuo.com/?p=177#comment-109941 Wow. That's great! Wow. That’s great!

]]> By: MJ Klein http://toshuo.com/2006/i-hate-the-lottery/comment-page-1/#comment-109934 MJ Klein Thu, 06 Dec 2007 18:42:06 +0000 http://toshuo.com/?p=177#comment-109934 i know this article is old but i wanted to relate my experience. i was in Taoyuan at a 7-11 when approached by a guy at the door on my way out. i'd seen him before - he's mildly retarded. he'd hold his hand out and people would give him their receipts as a kind of charity. the customer before me gave him his, and i passed, putting mine in my pocket. later i found that receipt from that store was consecutively the next number after a big winning receipt. guess who got it? i know this article is old but i wanted to relate my experience. i was in Taoyuan at a 7-11 when approached by a guy at the door on my way out. i’d seen him before - he’s mildly retarded. he’d hold his hand out and people would give him their receipts as a kind of charity. the customer before me gave him his, and i passed, putting mine in my pocket. later i found that receipt from that store was consecutively the next number after a big winning receipt. guess who got it?

]]> By: Mark http://toshuo.com/2006/i-hate-the-lottery/comment-page-1/#comment-11751 Mark Thu, 23 Nov 2006 06:02:30 +0000 http://toshuo.com/?p=177#comment-11751 I don't play anymore because I'm not convinced it's worth the extra 15 second wait every time I buy anything (which is like 6 times a day). It's <i>definitely</i> not worth waiting for all the receipts just so I can give them to you! I don’t play anymore because I’m not convinced it’s worth the extra 15 second wait every time I buy anything (which is like 6 times a day). It’s definitely not worth waiting for all the receipts just so I can give them to you!

]]> By: Prince Roy http://toshuo.com/2006/i-hate-the-lottery/comment-page-1/#comment-11736 Prince Roy Thu, 23 Nov 2006 00:59:27 +0000 http://toshuo.com/?p=177#comment-11736 the coffers of the Realm increased by a whopping NT200 the last drawing. I'm sold. If you don't want your receipts, save them and give them to me. the coffers of the Realm increased by a whopping NT200 the last drawing. I’m sold. If you don’t want your receipts, save them and give them to me.

]]> By: Mark http://toshuo.com/2006/i-hate-the-lottery/comment-page-1/#comment-11677 Mark Wed, 22 Nov 2006 09:59:29 +0000 http://toshuo.com/?p=177#comment-11677 I'm familiar with the history behind the lottery, and I think it was a great idea! I'm just irked because I don't <i>win</i> anymore. From everyone I've talked to, it's gotten harder and harder over the last few years... so hard, in fact, that some people are giving up on bothering to ask for recipts. I’m familiar with the history behind the lottery, and I think it was a great idea! I’m just irked because I don’t win anymore. From everyone I’ve talked to, it’s gotten harder and harder over the last few years… so hard, in fact, that some people are giving up on bothering to ask for recipts.

]]> By: Jenny http://toshuo.com/2006/i-hate-the-lottery/comment-page-1/#comment-11672 Jenny Wed, 22 Nov 2006 08:09:45 +0000 http://toshuo.com/?p=177#comment-11672 Just so you know: I think it was in the 60s in Taiwan, a lot of businesses kept several sets of books (or didn't keep one, meaning they had no sales). Because sales tax was based on sales, and everybody showed they had no sales, the government wanted a way to make the businesses give out receipts, and the buyers to demand receipts, hence there will be a tax basis. So a receipt lottery system was set up. This way, customers would insist on getting a receipt for their purchase, the vendors will have to pay the taxes (because receipts exist), and some lucky customer will be rewarded by winning money from the lottery. It may be crazy and weird, but that was the reason. Just so you know: I think it was in the 60s in Taiwan, a lot of businesses kept several sets of books (or didn’t keep one, meaning they had no sales). Because sales tax was based on sales, and everybody showed they had no sales, the government wanted a way to make the businesses give out receipts, and the buyers to demand receipts, hence there will be a tax basis.

So a receipt lottery system was set up. This way, customers would insist on getting a receipt for their purchase, the vendors will have to pay the taxes (because receipts exist), and some lucky customer will be rewarded by winning money from the lottery.

It may be crazy and weird, but that was the reason.

]]> By: Mark http://toshuo.com/2006/i-hate-the-lottery/comment-page-1/#comment-1646 Mark Wed, 12 Apr 2006 16:14:54 +0000 http://toshuo.com/?p=177#comment-1646 My old co-worker, Mike W., always counted out at least three or four winners at the end of each cycle... all the more justification for the title of my post! My old co-worker, Mike W., always counted out at least three or four winners at the end of each cycle… all the more justification for the title of my post!

]]> By: Clyde Warden http://toshuo.com/2006/i-hate-the-lottery/comment-page-1/#comment-1644 Clyde Warden Wed, 12 Apr 2006 13:16:03 +0000 http://toshuo.com/?p=177#comment-1644 Patrick, I think If I didn't have bad luck, I'd have no luck at all. You have restored my faith that the system is fixed. Maybe I'm just not buying enough?!?! Patrick, I think If I didn’t have bad luck, I’d have no luck at all. You have restored my faith that the system is fixed. Maybe I’m just not buying enough?!?!

]]> By: Patrick http://toshuo.com/2006/i-hate-the-lottery/comment-page-1/#comment-1639 Patrick Wed, 12 Apr 2006 02:58:06 +0000 http://toshuo.com/?p=177#comment-1639 Before I knew about the lottery, I threw the receipts away. Ah, those were innocent times. Now, I have to stop myself from stealing the receipts that are offered up for donation in those plexiglass boxes. Oh, cruel addiction, when will you leave me? @Clyde: Really? We usually win 4,000 to 6,000 NT every 2months. Must be the shops you frequent... ;) Before I knew about the lottery, I threw the receipts away. Ah, those were innocent times. Now, I have to stop myself from stealing the receipts that are offered up for donation in those plexiglass boxes. Oh, cruel addiction, when will you leave me?
@Clyde: Really? We usually win 4,000 to 6,000 NT every 2months. Must be the shops you frequent… ;)

]]> By: John B http://toshuo.com/2006/i-hate-the-lottery/comment-page-1/#comment-1637 John B Tue, 11 Apr 2006 22:24:21 +0000 http://toshuo.com/?p=177#comment-1637 I was at a bar once in Hangzhou and someone won something like 500RMB from his receipt. I still scratch the things when I get them (but I almost never get them) and have had nothing but the same results as John. I was at a bar once in Hangzhou and someone won something like 500RMB from his receipt. I still scratch the things when I get them (but I almost never get them) and have had nothing but the same results as John.

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