An Unanswered Letter to Robert Cockerham

Christopher L. Jorgensen
P.O. Box 546
Ames, IA 50010

October 1, 2010

Robert Cockerham
3444 Mayfair Drive
Sacramento, CA 95864

Dear Robert Cockerham,

I know you will find this hard to believe, but if you read this letter I am sure you will come to the conclusion that you owe me money. Now, I never play the lottery, but I decided to try your “mega-millions” lottery simulator here: http://cockeyed.com/citizen/poker/lottery_simulator100.php since it was free. I played the following numbers 4 8 15 16 23 42 and set it for 1040 times.

I hit on the very first time! So I decided to fire it up again, but this time I set it for “1 time” using these same numbers and I hit again! What are the odds of that? Surely not three times? But yes, 4 8 15 16 23 42 hit again! (Check your weblogs if you don’t believe me.) I was thinking your simulator was broke, so I had a coworker try it and he barely hit even one ball out of 1040 times.

So I did the obvious thing. Last Wednesday I ran out and bought an Iowa Lottery ticket. (We don’t have the Mega-Millions lottery here, but it’s the same idea.) I played 4 8 15 16 23 42 again and LOST!

Your simulator misled me into playing! So you can see how I’ve come to the conclusion you owe me, and believe you will now agree. If you would be so kind as to remit $1 to the above address I would appreciate it.

I’m sending you this through the postal mail so you know I’m not some kind of Nigerian email scam artist.

Sincerely,

Christopher L. Jorgensen