odds of winning

It looks like my New Year's Resolution of winning the lottery is going to cost more this year. Or is it my retirement plan? Either way, Powerball lotto tickets will be going to $2 beginning January 15.

Since 1993, Joan R. Ginther has hit the lotto jackpot four times, to the tune of $2 million, $3 million, $5.4 million and $10 million. The chances of this happening are one in 18 septillion. For a point of reference, there are about one septillion grains of sand on earth...