Mega Millions: What’s up with Mirlande Wilson’s “Sweet Swine” cap?

Posted on April 6, 2012 by atomictv

Woman who claims she may have winning Mega Millions lottery numbers in Baltimore wore a hat that’s drawing viewers to anti-Mitt Romney site

By Yvonne Wenger (The Baltimore Sun, 4/6/2012)

If you’ve been following the bizarre story about the Baltimore woman who claims she may have won a piece of the Mega Millions record-breaking $656 million jackpot, you may have noticed the peculiar hat Mirlande Wilson wore to her news conference this week — the one with “Sweet Swine Pork Rinds” stitched across the front.

After Wilson’s picture was broadcast by The Baltimore Sun and news organizations across the country, a reader from Chicago wrote in to suggest that Wilson and her cap were part of a political stunt designed to smear Mitt Romney, the GOP frontrunner for president. See, when you Google “Sweet Swine Pork Rinds” your first hit is for an anti-Romney site.

He jumped online, searched domain names and for $9.99 he claimed ownership of SweetSwinePorkRinds.com. He used the site to link to his anti-Romney blog, where he promotes animal rights.

Continue reading “Mega Millions: What’s up with Mirlande Wilson’s ‘Sweet Swine’ cap?” at The Baltimore Sun..

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Oyster Burns Baseball Card, Baltimore Orioles,1887

Posted on April 6, 2012 by atomictv

Wikipedia excerpt: “…He continued his career with the Orioles in 1885, batting .231 with five home runs and 37 RBI, and pitching to a 7–4 win–loss record. His offensive struggles led him to be demoted to the Newark Domestics for the 1886 season,[1] where he helped the Domestics win the Eastern League pennant.[1] By 1887, Burns had reentered the majors for the Orioles and became the team captain until he threw a baseball at an opposing pitcher following a groundout;[7] he was later fined $25 ($647 in 2011).[1] On the season, he recorded nine home runs—good for third in the American Association. Burns’s 19 triples were enough to tie him with five others for the league lead, and his 140 games played were tied for the league lead with teammate Blondie Purcell.[8]

After playing in 79 games for Baltimore, Burns was transferred to the Brooklyn Bridegrooms by Harry Von der Horst, the owner of both clubs.”

Continue reading “Oyster Burns” at Wikipedia.

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Maryland’s 1969 Clam Queen

Posted on April 5, 2012 by atomictv

(Found via Ebay.com)

“This is Lynda Hartley, of Severna Park, who popped out of a huge shell to open the annual clam festival in Annapolis. She is ending a year’s reign as Clam Queen.”

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Mega Millionaire ‘Bunky’ Bartlett says life of a lottery winner isn’t easy

Posted on April 5, 2012 by atomictv

Bartlett reflects on mistakes (and successes) since winning $32.6 million

By Mary Carole McCauley and Justin Fenton (The Baltimore Sun, 4/3/2012)

Bunky Bartlett at Mystickal Voyage in Nottingham, shortly after he won a Mega Millions jackpot in 2007. Bartlett invested in the Wiccan bookstore, but it went out of business. (Christopher T. Assaf, Baltimore Sun)

A Tarot card might have foretold that Ellwood “Bunky” Bartlett would win $32.6 million in the 2007 lottery.

Unfortunately, the spirit world provided no omens that might have helped the 45-year-old practicing Wiccan better manage his good fortune.

This week, as much of the East Coast is waiting for the winners of the record $656 million jackpot to step forward, Bartlett of Westminster agreed to talk about the things that have gone wrong — and right — in his life during the past three years.

To help Maryland’s newest mega-millionaires avoid repeating his mistakes, Bartlett offered the following tips:

Remain anonymous. Take the winnings in the form of an annuity parceled out over 26 years, instead of in a lump sum. Curb impulse spending by stashing the winnings in a trust fund that requires several signatures to authorize major purchases.

“Otherwise, everybody and their brother will find you and try to get money from you,” Bartlett said.

Bartlett was by all accounts a soft touch who gave away millions to friends and strangers. He hired his buddies, bought them first-class plane tickets, officiated at their weddings and helped them buy homes — only to watch helplessly as long-standing relationships disintegrated.

The former accountant readily admits to making bad business decisions. Plans that were widely publicized at the time, such as expanding the New Age bookshop near White Marsh that he considered his “spiritual home,” failed spectacularly.

Continue reading “Mega Millionaire ‘Bunky’ Bartlett says life of a lottery winner isn’t easy” at The Baltimore Sun.

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