29
Mar

The odds of winning the $540 million Mega Millions jackpot

by joshwoodtx

*03/30 update: looks like the jackpot is now up to a whopping $640 million.

$540 million. That’s the estimated payout for Friday’s Mega Millions lotto drawing. Interestingly, you could buy all of the possible combinations of numbers for around $176 million. You’d better hope that you don’t have to split those winnings though. Your lump sum payout after taxes would be a multi-million dollar loss if there is so much as one other winner.

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23
Mar

Walmart prices 12 months ago vs. Walmart prices today

by joshwoodtx

I was cleaning out some old files and found a spreadsheet from this time last year. On said spreadsheet I had recorded the prices of some random purchases at Walmart (what, you don't do that?). Rather than dragging the file over into the ol' recycle bin, I decided to use my numbers to take a quick look at my personal level of inflation for the past year. Off to Walmart I went. Here's a look at my costs from 12 months ago vs. my cost today for various goods. Yikes. Apparently there was some sort of peanut crisis that I was unaware of. Bad news, fellow PB & honey sandwich lovers, apparently the man is not a fan of the PB &H...or generic crackers.

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8
Mar

Kony 2012 - my 2 cents

by joshwoodtx

See video

Like the rest of the known universe, I sat and watched the Kony 2012 video a couple days ago. Powerful. It's tempting to hop on a plane and try to hunt the guy down personally, isn't it?

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15
Dec

7 tasks you should complete before the end of the year

by joshwoodtx

Today is my annual clean-up day: the day that I clean up a ton of the messes I've made throughout the year. Here's how I spent my day. I encourage everyone to take a day to focus on these tasks also. You'll feel a lot less encumbered when the new year smacks you in the face. 

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