A Closer Look … (@ MegaMillions!!)

with Anthony Newcombe

March 13, 2025

This month’s topic: The Lottery ($5 now)

I don’t understand something. Perhaps you can help me. I noticed last week that the California MegaMillions just announced that starting this April, the entry fee going forward will now be $5 – up from $2.

The rationale went something like this: “Now, MegaMillions wannabes will be able to LOWER their odds of winning…blah, blah, blah…”

I’m not a big fan of the lotto (too much of a control freak regarding my finances) but I can’t help but notice the plethora of citizens who partake in the contest (many of them as often as possible), and I know they all really have faith they will one day hit the big jackpot.

I guess for the purposes of this blog entry, I’m more concerned about the “little guys.” You know, the ones who can’t seem to make their monthly nut, yet squirrel-away just enough ducats to participate whenever possible.

So, lotto entries are ALSO subject to inflation?

Now, being that we are facing some odd and widespread inflationary issues right now, I can’t help but wonder why the lotto bosses thought this was a good time to “raise the ante.” Let’s face it: Americans are bellyaching over the price of eggs, gas, mortgages, rent etc.

I agree with said aches & pains. HOWEVER, I don’t see the logic in paying 150% more for a gambling ticket while they are enduring said inflation. I mean, it’s like saying to someone:

“Let me help you out with that inflation. I know you’re in need of making some big money but first just give me some extra money and I promise you your odds of winning big will move UP from being struck by lightning while a Great White Shark is devouring you – to simply being struck while relaxing on a random park bench.”

Coo coo, isn’t it. I don’t know what to say. HELP! S.O.S.

What do YOU think?

Oh, and “happy spring season!”

– A.N.

PROFILE

Anthony Newcombe is a 4-time entrepreneur, published author & narrator, and full-stack web developer. He can be reached for appearances via our CONTACT PAGE.

RELATED WORKS BY THIS AUTHOR

https://writeplus.biz/a-closer-look-17/

“SURGE PRICING,” “DYNAMIC PRICING,” ETC.

(And whether they all perhaps are just different terms for, well, “GOUGING”)

I don’t know about you, but I think this one might be well worth a shout down. Just imagine being a businessperson and suddenly being able to decide at what time(s) of day (or night) that you would choose to charge for a price for your product or service?

First, I completely understand the “wish” for this to occur, but what makes no sense whatsoever is how it all fits into a lawful and fair process for those who PAY YOU for your product or service.

Let’s take ***a closer look*** … @ some PRICE SURGES!!

Case Study: The Donut

Peering in from the customer side of things, I would think that a customer who buys a donut at 5 a.m. (before the morning rush) would expect that, with surge pricing, he or she should obtain the BEST price for the donut purchased. This, not only because said donut is certainly “fresher” at 5 a.m., but also because LESS people are competing to purchase the donut at the time. A different argument could say that the customer should pay MORE because it was just made and will taste best at this hour.

So, where does that leave us? Should the donut be MORE expensive at 5 a.m.? Or, should it be MORE expensive around 7 a.m. when the traffic numbers are much higher? At any rate, trying to even give intelligent answers to these questions seems like a recipe for disaster and it looks like the only places these matters will end up in are the courts!

RELEVANT LINKS

UBER 🚗

https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/03/business/dynamic-surge-pricing-nightcap/index.html

Wendy’s 🍔

https://apnews.com/article/wendys-surge-pricing-tanner-burger-dynamic-9417bc235bbcd13d82966d04a6ba42bd

Jet Blue’s Latest: ✈️

https://viewfromthewing.com/desperate-jetblue-ups-ante-with-new-record-high-dynamic-pricing-for-checked-bags/

PROFILE

Anthony Newcombe is a 4-time entrepreneur, published author & narrator, and full-stack web developer. He can be reached directly via our CONTACT PAGE.

How about an AI CEO?

A Closer Look …

with Anthony Newcombe

This month: Here’s an idea: let’s build an A.I. replacement for CEOs!!

You’ve heard it, I’ve heard, we’ve all heard it recently. “Artificial intelligence is going to replace me, and no one is going to be able to do anything about it!” Whether it’s Hollywood writers & actors, as well as other creators of duplicative content or services, it seems everyone is at risk of being replaced (substituted?) by AI.

WHY THIS MAKES SENSE

Call it alarmist, paranoid, or anything else you wish. The fact is that it’s coming – and FAST! I recall when I was very young going to the movies and seeing Westworld with Richard Benjamin and a very intimidating Yul Brenner. I might be too proud to say I was shaking in my boots, but let’s just settle on the fact that I NEVER forgot that movie. If only I’d known that it was simply a precursor …

Fast forward to today. It seems the only working people who are the most frightened by this concept are those whose decisions are being made on their behalf. Combine that with a general lack of trust for those in charge and BOOM – we are left with the anger, disbelief, and anxiety that is here.

CONTENT CREATOR P.O.V. VS. CEO P.O.V.

I think about things like this all the time. As a content creator, I understand fully the importance of “having a say over my creation(s).” Conversely, as a CEO, I understand the need to stay ahead of the business/technology curve and to keep costs in check, etc. However, in this situation, I’m going to side with the creators. I’m going to do this for the purposes of this blog entry simply BECAUSE-I-CAN!

THE WRAP UP

Finally, I’m going to propose that we embark on inventing a brand-new CEO in A.I. It won’t be overpaid, it won’t chastise and intimidate its workforce, and it won’t force others to (Return to Office or “RTO”) drive to the office every day should they prefer to work from home (WFH).

Pretty cool, huh? You’re welcome.

What do YOU think?

Hope your very hot summer is not so horrible.

Stay hydrated.

-A.N.

PROFILE

Anthony Newcombe is a 4-time entrepreneur, published author & narrator, and full-stack web developer. He can be reached for appearances via our CONTACT PAGE.

And the winner (again) is … Benjamin Franklin!💰

THE PGA TOUR COMBINES WITH THOSE CONTROLLING THE LIV TOUR

A Closer Look …

💰💰💰

with Anthony Newcombe

Well, it happened again. There’s a saying in sales that “the only loyalty in this business is to Benjamin Franklin (i.e., the $100 bill). Indeed, Benjamin Franklin DID win yet another battle. But it wasn’t in the sales world. Or was it?

If you’re keeping score at home, I’m talking about what’s going on in the professional sports world at the moment. If you really want to know, I’m precisely referencing the “kowtow bow” the PGA Tour and its leadership extended to those on the other side. Just a few majors ago, I recall seeing interviews containing the words “integrity, honor, principles, and loyalty (yes, the other “L” word).

Today, it’s “We need to make this work,” “We apologize to our constituents,” blah, blah, blah. Since when did running an elite global sports organization entail working across the aisle talk? So, EVERYTHING sounds like D.C. politicians now? Here’s a word for you: BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

The fact of the matter is that Goliath (as usual) kicked the piss out of David (ditto). Unfortunately, we all are accustomed to “Goliath” being what was revealed as “David.” What I’m saying is it’s usually the tour that sets the tone and leans its weight and might on the weaker opponent. Here’s an idea guys: why not just be straight with everyone and TELL them that you were being strong armed all along.

Especially the players who stood by you and sacrificed friendships, reputations, and oh, MONEY to fall on the sword for YOU. If cash was so tight, why didn’t you say it originally? Perhaps we in your “fandom” might have felt some empathy for you and either circled a global hat, opened a GoFundMe account or something of the like. So, the payout was MUCH BETTER on the other (quieter) side? I see. Okay, good luck with that one!

💰💰💰💰

So let me digress. You may think “who am I to tell anyone to be brave.” I’m not even going to try that one. However, what I WILL say is: think about everything you did when you “put this deal together.” Think about all the people for whom you were making decisions. That way, the next time you host or attend a youth charity event demonstrating the importance of the teachings of golf, I hope you can stop yourself in your tracks from lecturing others about those four words I opened with: integrity, honor, principles, and loyalty. Because if you use these words, you will only be demonstrating one real word: hypocrisy.

There’s a bigger name on the other line. Gotta go. Have a great summer, hope the Opens go well and “we’ll see you at the bank!”

A.N.

PROFILE

Anthony Newcombe is a 4-time entrepreneur, published author and narrator, and a full-stack web developer. He hits the golf ball a long way but often struggles to find it. He enjoys landscaping and tinkering in his backyard on weekends. Anthony’s social media handles are: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter

Make up your minds people!

A Closer Look …

with Anthony Newcombe

I don’t know about you, but I’m a bit befuddled by the “wishy-washiness” (for lack of a better term) of our current approach to running our country. Let’s just get right to it.

First, we need to figure out what our actual priorities are. I just received a weather report yesterday that over two feet of rain (yes, that is correct) was expected for the south Florida region in less than 8 hours. Normally, hearing that rain is headed to south Florida is nothing unusual. However, when the Ft. Lauderdale Airport becomes frickin’ Lake Okeechobee in less than an hour (requiring extensive closure), it registers. It really registers.

So, if political and corporate leaders wish to tout Florida as “the place to be,” shouldn’t they also pay the same attention to how people plan to navigate these apocalyptic conditions? In other words, it seems a fool’s errand to pack a state with people, homes, businesses, etc. while simultaneously ignoring the fact that the state can’t handle the worsening weather conditions, right?!

By the way, not to pick on Florida, but we can see this happening pretty much everywhere. Heavy snowfall one week, and dry fire conditions the next (see New Jersey or California). Tornadoes roaring through the mid west, south and also touching down in California.

I guess my point is: at what point do we figure out that we are in over our collective skulls? Do we need to see one of our states literally “fall off the map” in order to do more? Does some location need to sink?

What do you think?

A.N.

Profile

Anthony Newcombe is a 4-time entrepreneur, published author & narrator, and a full-stack web developer. He enjoys most outdoor activities and hopes to be able to survive the probable apocalypse at some point …

The “New” Lazy

A Closer Look

with Anthony Newcombe

This month’s topic: The “New Lazy”

la·zy

/ˈlāzē/

adjective

adjective: lazy; comparative adjective: lazier; superlative adjective: laziest

unwilling to work or use energy.

“He was too lazy to cook”

Or, how about, “We were too lazy to drive to the drive thru”

Our household just received the latest “new thing.” It is, in fact, a digi-coupon from DoorDash informing us (don’t quote me) something like “… save 15% on our orders from Del Taco in the next 15 days!”

Del Taco? Do you mean the drive-thru Del Taco?” Seriously?! So, let me get this straight. We can’t even rally enough to throw on some clothes and drive ourselves to the drive thru?! In just a few short years of Covid-19, we’ve now become so lazy that we can’t even bring ourselves to do what the formerly lazy people did before the shutdown.

It says a lot about how easily we can be persuaded “after the fact.” We’ve normalized something as simple as getting into our cars and driving a few blocks down the street. We’re even now willing to include a “delivery charge” just to be able to keep ourselves firmly planted in place. What’s next, having someone to bring the delivery into our homes and arrange our plastic cutlery for us prior to engorging?

Hold on a sec. My security cameras just informed me that “Dasher” is here with my lunch.

Gotta go!

See you in the new year – have a safe holiday and don’t eat too … well, you know you will! <);^)

A.N.

PROFILE

Anthony Newcombe is a 4-time entrepreneur, published author & narrator, and full-stack web developer. His insta handles are @50AINT30 and @anjet123

#ImmediateGratification #WhatHaveWeBecome #LowEnergy

A Closer Look

with Anthony Newcombe

Topic

This month’s topic: Why are NFL players allowed to get behind the quarterback and push him into the end zone, but the defense can’t sack him in the pocket?

Issue

Many of my followers follow me to get a giggle or two once a month. However, today, I’m not playing around anymore. I know we’re only about a third of the way through the 2022 campaign, but it’s starting to look like this is going to be an infuriating season. Right, non-Philly fans? You’re undefeated at the time of this writing and your MLB team is in the NLCS. So, sit down and shut up for now.🤓

I just hate to see such an exciting, addictive sport like football turn into a hapless medley of contradictions. One example is the allowance of pile-driving the quarterback (running back or “wildcat back”) into the end zone or across the first down marker. Does this jibe with all the other rules like: hitting a defenseless receiver, leading with the helmet, striking a quarterback during a running slide, or myriad pass interference calls in the secondary?

What about the flags they constantly throw when a field goal defender launches himself off the backside of a wide-haunched teammate? I thought they were “trying to protect the safety of the players first and foremost?” How is that achieved in this matter? Oh, and don’t get me started on the quarterback sack issue. You know, the one where certain quarterbacks (wink, wink – not any of my team’s!!) are afforded the launching of the yellow laundry while others are completely ignored?

Personally, I’d think a player would prefer his own teammate place his cleats on his cushy tushy while he leaps into the air to “Mutombo” a field goal kick (“NO, NO, NO!”) rather than dig his helmet into my spine and heave ho forward like some ancient Spartan of the past just to get me another yard or two.

My wishes aside – seriously, is one really “safer” than the other? I think not. It’s kind of ridiculous if you ask me. I think the game is getting so far away from its intended roots that we might want to call it something else soon. How about “Pickleball?” No?

What do YOU think?

P.S. Apologies for being such a serious stiff this month …

-A.N.

PROFILE

Anthony Newcombe is a 4-time entrepreneur, published author and narrator, full-stack developer, and a very humble guy. He thinks he’s “super-skilled” around the house, but his wife would definitely say otherwise …

SLAMMING HOTEL DOORS!

Don’t you HATE them?!!

A Closer Look…

with Anthony Newcombe

**Let’s take a closer look … @ SLAMMING HOTEL DOORS!!**

🚪This month’s topic: BOOM!

Why do hotel doors cause so much of a racket when closing?

No matter the quality, rate, or general cleanliness of a hotel, they all seem to have one irritating trait very much in common: Their room doors make a ton of noise when they close! Be it coming or going, all we hear is BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

WTF?

Think about it: when’s the last time you visited even a 5-star property that, well, won’t wake you up with a better success rate than the cheap alarm clock or the unreliable automated operator call?

In fact, I just completed back-to-back trips in completely different cities (and hotels) and both times I was awakened by the constant slamming of some jerky in the hallway either having a really late night out or trying to get to the airport just in time to find out his flight was cancelled.

Solutions

Did the hotel chains ever consider hiring Rolls Royce to design their doors? RR has a pretty good reputation for designing doors that assure “soft landings.” Or, how about Sub-Zero? Their iceboxes (does “icebox” date me?) seem to be pretty quiet when I open (and close) them for my sleepwalking snack(s). I know, it’s probably a bit pricey. But you’d think that being in a copycat industry, SOMEONE might have already figured this one out. Spoiler Alert: they have NOT.

You’d think the hotel chains would be excited about this. Then, they have something better to promote than “free breakfast and Wi-Fi” offered! They really do need our help, folks.

Any ideas?

-A.N.

Happy fall quarter!

See you next month

Profile

Anthony Newcombe is a 4-time entrepreneur. He is also a published author and narrator and a full-stack web developer. Anthony can be reached for appearances via our CONTACT PAGE.

A Closer Look …

with Anthony Newcombe 👀👀

October’s topic:

The “Cottage Industry” has caught up with me (finally)

20-plus years working in a remote setting … and wouldn’t change a thing!

Well, it took a while, but what can I say: I TOLD you so! Well, not entirely. I spent much of my time since 1999 believing I had to keep some sort of secret or something. I asked myself:

Will they ever find out that I tend to wear shorts and sandals during my business calls and videos?
Do you they know that have no interest in driving downtown for any reason at all? Including closing giant deals?

Will they be mortified if one of my little ones barges into my home office and vomits mac and cheese all over my desk in real time? Did I care even if something like that happened?

The answer to the above and many other questions, is, well, NO. I didn’t care. I don’t care today either. And I probably won’t care at any time in the future. I mean, let’s face it: Nobody I know out-works me. In fact, I haven’t been on a real vacation since the end of 2017. Oh yeah, we probably shouldn’t even count that one because I was finalizing my book, Sorry, 50 is NOT the New 30, during that trip.

I look around and see Congress on break most of the calendar year. I see neighbors who can barely roll out of bed by noon and spend their weeknights getting high and drinking all night. I come across those on social media pretending they’re working, but still, can’t figure out what they’re even working on. Working on their tans?

I suppose, though, it took the Covid pandemic to convince more than a few professionals to “hang up their car keys” and settle into whatever makeshift workspace they could create within their 4 walls. And looking around, it’s hard to see many other benefits of this whole health scare period in the United States and beyond.

However, one thing I do know is the cottage industry is here to stay and that’s a good thing because it will keep me plugging along, my sanity in check, and, of course, my dry-cleaning bill will remain where it belongs – in the home office shredder! Ciao!

So, what’s your story?

We’ll catch up with you again in about 30 days … I’m out!

-A.N.

Support Small Businesses

A Closer Look …

with Anthony Newcombe

Q: WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES?

A: 3 WORDS: BUY, BUY, BUY!

It's GAME TIME!! — https://writeplus.biz/shop/

PROFILE

Anthony Newcombe is a 4-time entrepreneur, published author & narrator, and full-stack web developer. He can be reached directly for appearances via our CONTACT PAGE.

AND ONE … FINAL … NOTE

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