99% Invisible: 182- A Sweet Surprise Awaits You

September 23, 2015 9:14 PM

On the night of March 30, 2005, the Powerball jackpot was 25 million dollars. The grand prize winner was in Tennessee, but all over the United States, one hundred and ten second-place winners came forward. Normally just three or four players guess all but the last digit and claim a secondary prize, but this time something was clearly different. Lottery officials were flustered, unsure if there was a computer glitch or a hack in the system, but when they asked the winners how they picked their numbers each had the same response: from a fortune cookie.

Show page with photos

Jennifer 8 Lee's excellent book "The Fortune Cooke Chronicles"

Recovering the Classics

posted by radioamy (2 comments total)

I knew most of this story from reading The Fortune Cookie Chronicles but still enjoyed the show a lot.

I, for one, am extremely sad that the Tiny Letter sponsorship is changing. I love hearing what his kids have to say.

Also...I met Roman Mars on Monday! He was on a panel about radio storytelling (with Glynn Washington of Snap Judgement and Jessica Abel, author of On a Wire). We chatted for about 5 minutes during the pre-show reception and he was amazing! I had a little trouble focusing on what he was actually saying because his voice is as mesmerizing in person as it is on the radio. If you can't tell, I'm still a little giddy from the experience. Eek!
posted by radioamy at 9:23 PM on September 23, 2015 [1 favorite]

I have to admit I had no idea that fortune cookies were originally Japanese, and this is a pretty cool story. (Also, wow: hadn't thought of Jennifer 8. Lee in a long time. Glad she's still writing.)
posted by psoas at 9:22 AM on October 15, 2015