Opinion/Flotsam & Jetsam: Dinosaur prints and an eccentric pianist
By Jim Carter
What’s in the numbers? Massachusetts Lottery officials said they had 50 (count ‘em fifty) Mass Cash drawing winners a couple weeks ago, all of whom selected 3-9-15-21-27. They had to split the $2.4 million jackpot, which reduced their take-home to about $48,000 each. The numbers are all six digits apart, and appeared stacked in a vertical line on the bet slip. They’ve had multiple winners who had to share the pot before, but never 50. (Sharing the wealth.)
Speaking of records, German scientists have discovered a heretofore unknown chameleon that is the smallest known reptile on planet earth. Called the Brookesia nana, or nano-chameleon, the discoverers from the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology in Munich said it’s so small it could hide inside a sunflower seed shell. They found a pair of the tiny lizards in Madagascar, one male and one female (hopefully compatible), but could find no more �
California town pays tourists $100 to come visit
UPI News Service, 02/05/2021
A small California town with a tourism industry hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic is offering visitors $100 to come and stay.
ADVERTISEMENT The Visit Santa Maria Valley program is providing $100 vouchers, which can be used at the town s wineries, breweries and restaurants, to tourists who stay for at least two nights at hotels there.
The promotion, which launched Thursday, runs through March 31. Santa Maria Valley has so much to offer, Jennifer Harrison, director of the Santa Maria Valley Visitors Bureau, told CNN. We have beautiful beaches, hotels and wineries that are such a great option for budget-conscious travelers during a time of economic rebound.
Santa Maria Valley will pay tourists $100 to travel there and stay for a minimum of two nights at a hotel in the area. The payment comes in the form of a voucher.