Inspiration and addictions.

We're all going through some financial difficulties in this economy. Some of us have lost our jobs, decreasing the amount of income that is needed to get by. So while some of us would get down, roll up our sleeves and hunt for a job, others spend what little money they have and play the lottery. Sure, it's almost like playing the stock market: those of us with a job or career are akin to low yield savings bonds or a balance low risk portfolio and those that play the lottery well...

My inspiration to this weeks monday video came from one of those desperate fantasies of mine. I'm currently broke and unemployed, waiting on someone, anyone, to call me and offer me a job while I go out and fill out more applications. While driving to one of those places to fill out an application, I saw a billboard that read, "Mega Millions: 130 Million," and boy did that catch my attention. I wanted to hunt down a dollar and take a risk and maybe win at least a part of those winnings. Realistically, though, I knew better.

Then it hit me.

I decided to make a video about the lottery, cigarettes, and books. Currently, the addictions people have nowadays that are socially common and acceptable are gambling and smoking. I have an addiction that is most uncommon and thus not considered an addiction. Juxtaposing all three elements, I compared and contrasted the virtues and follies of these three things.

1) The lottery is a game of chance. The odds to win are 1:39.89 according to the GA lottery website. I don't know the odds as a singular entity, but they're quite high. In order to increase your chances you have to spend more money, and right now that's not feasible if there's no income. The good thing about the GA lottery is the HOPE scholarship, paid for by the GA lottery.

2) Smoking. There's just no benefits to smoking tobacco. None. It's a health hazard and produces to pro to counter the high con of lung cancer and emphysema. People are burning their money, plain and simple. When firefighters pull out people from a burning building, they take them to a hospital and check for smoke inhalation, making sure that there's no lung damage. Well take a cigarette and you now have your burning building, except that you're doing it willingly.

3) Books. My personal addiction. I buy books and buy books because I love to read. I love to read because it empowers me and unlike a losing lottery ticket and a cigarette, I can keep the book after finishing it and I can keep reading it and reading it and so on. I can also give away my book(s) to the next generation. I'm passing down knowledge I gained to those that will inherit the world after we're gone and empower more people. That's a huge pro compared to the lottery and cigarettes. The only con is that I don't have the income to keep buying and buying, but there is always a way to get a book for cheap.



Take care cool cats.