cruel twists of fate Mega Millions Winners Can Thank Poor Behavior for Good Fortune 
  
 If not for some dude that cut in front of him in line, Mike Barth would have missed out buying the winning Mega Millions lottery ticket for him and his six co-workers. There is pretty much no better comeback than, "Thanks for the $319 million, jerkoff." [Times Union via NPR] ||||| After taxes, it's still a fortune State workers who each won $19M recall weekend of tense excitement 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 1 of / 15 Caption Close Image 1 of 15 One of seven new lottery millionaires Gabrielle Mahar, left, of Colonie gets a kiss from Boyfriend Scott Conklin of Albany after a news conference at the New York Lottery offices in Schenectady Thursday morning March 31, 2011. The seven winners of the $319 million Mega Millions, are state workers with the NYS Homes and Community Renewal and bought the winning ticket at Coulson's, around the corner from their downtown Albany office. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) One of seven new lottery millionaires Gabrielle Mahar, left, of Colonie gets a kiss from Boyfriend Scott Conklin of Albany after a news conference at the New York Lottery offices in Schenectady Thursday morning ... more Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 2 of 15 Newest lottery millionaires, from left, Leon Peck of Johnstown, Kristin Baldwin of Clifton Park, Mike Barth of Bethlehem, Tracy Sussman of Colonie, John Kutey of Green Island, Gabrielle Mahar of Colonie and John Hilton of North Greenbush during a news conference at the New York Lottery offices in Schenectady Thursday morning March 31, 2011. The seven winners of the $319 million Mega Millions, are state workers with the NYS Homes and Community Renewal and bought the winning ticket at Coulson's, around the corner from their downtown Albany office. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) Newest lottery millionaires, from left, Leon Peck of Johnstown, Kristin Baldwin of Clifton Park, Mike Barth of Bethlehem, Tracy Sussman of Colonie, John Kutey of Green Island, Gabrielle Mahar of Colonie and ... more Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 3 of 15 In this file photograph, John Kutey, and his wife, Lynda, both of Green Island, skating at Rollarama Skating Center in Schenectady on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010. (Times Union) ? In this file photograph, John Kutey, and his wife, Lynda, both of Green Island, skating at Rollarama Skating Center in Schenectady on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010. (Times Union) ? Image 4 of 15 In this file photograph, John Kutey, and his wife, Lynda, both of Green Island, skating at Rollarama Skating Center in Schenectady on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010. (Times Union) ? In this file photograph, John Kutey, and his wife, Lynda, both of Green Island, skating at Rollarama Skating Center in Schenectady on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010. (Times Union) ? Image 5 of 15 Mega Millions winner Tracy Sussman, 41, of Colonie, during a news conference at the state Lottery offices in Schenectady on Thursday, March 31, 2011. She and six other winners of the $319 million Mega Millions are state workers with the Office of Homes and Community Renewal. They bought the winning ticket at Coulson's newstand in downtown Albany, which is around the corner from their office. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) Mega Millions winner Tracy Sussman, 41, of Colonie, during a news conference at the state Lottery offices in Schenectady on Thursday, March 31, 2011. She and six other winners of the $319 million Mega ... more Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 6 of 15 Mega Millions winner John Kutey, 54, of Green Island, during a news conference at the New York Lottery offices in Schenectady on Thursday, March 31, 2011. He and six other winners of the $319 million Mega Millions are state workers with the Office of Homes and Community Renewal. They bought the winning ticket at Coulson's newstand in downtown Albany, which is around the corner from their office. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) Mega Millions winner John Kutey, 54, of Green Island, during a news conference at the New York Lottery offices in Schenectady on Thursday, March 31, 2011. He and six other winners of the $319 million Mega ... more Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 7 of 15 Mega Millions winner Gabrielle Mahar, 29, of Colonie, during a news conference at the New York Lottery offices in Schenectady Thursday morning March 31, 2011. She and six other winners of the $319 million Mega Millions are state workers with the Office of Homes and Community Renewal. They bought the winning ticket at Coulson's newstand in downtown Albany, which is around the corner from their office. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) Mega Millions winner Gabrielle Mahar, 29, of Colonie, during a news conference at the New York Lottery offices in Schenectady Thursday morning March 31, 2011. She and six other winners of the $319 million Mega ... more Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 8 of 15 Mega Millions winner Mike Barth, 63, of Bethlehem, during a news conference at the state Lottery offices in Schenectady Thursday, March 31, 2011. He and six other winners of the $319 million Mega Millions are state workers with the Office of Homes and Community Renewal. They bought the winning ticket at Coulson's newstand in downtown Albany, which is around the corner from their office. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union)) Mega Millions winner Mike Barth, 63, of Bethlehem, during a news conference at the state Lottery offices in Schenectady Thursday, March 31, 2011. He and six other winners of the $319 million Mega Millions are ... more Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 9 of 15 Mega Millions winner John Hilton, 57, of North Greenbush, during a news conference at the state Lottery offices in Schenectady on Thursday, March 31, 2011. He and six other winners of the $319 million Mega Millions are state workers with the Office of Homes and Community Renewal. They bought the winning ticket at Coulson's newstand in downtown Albany, which is around the corner from their office. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) Mega Millions winner John Hilton, 57, of North Greenbush, during a news conference at the state Lottery offices in Schenectady on Thursday, March 31, 2011. He and six other winners of the $319 million Mega ... more Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 10 of 15 Mega Millions winner Kristin Baldwin, 42, of Clifton Park, during a news conference at the state Lottery offices in Schenectady on Thursday, March 31, 2011. She and six other winners of the $319 million Mega Millions are state workers with the Office of Homes and Community Renewal. They bought the winning ticket at Coulson's newstand in downtown Albany, which is around the corner from their office. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) Mega Millions winner Kristin Baldwin, 42, of Clifton Park, during a news conference at the state Lottery offices in Schenectady on Thursday, March 31, 2011. She and six other winners of the $319 million Mega ... more Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 11 of 15 Mega Millions winner Leon Peck, 62, of Johnstown, during a news conference at the state Lottery offices in Schenectady on Thursday, March 31, 2011. He and six other winners of the $319 million Mega Millions are state workers with the Office of Homes and Community Renewal. They bought the winning ticket at Coulson's newstand in downtown Albany, which is around the corner from their office. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) Mega Millions winner Leon Peck, 62, of Johnstown, during a news conference at the state Lottery offices in Schenectady on Thursday, March 31, 2011. He and six other winners of the $319 million Mega Millions are ... more Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 12 of 15 In this photograph, future Mega Millions winner Gabrielle Mahar, right, can be seen with fellow 2001 Tulip Queen candidates during a press conference outside Albany's City Hall, Wednesday, May 2,2001 . From left are : Kristy Kruse; Shannon Rivers; Andrea Drago; Amy Kaplan; and Mahar. In this photograph, future Mega Millions winner Gabrielle Mahar, right, can be seen with fellow 2001 Tulip Queen candidates during a press conference outside Albany's City Hall, Wednesday, May 2,2001 . From ... more Image 13 of 15 Posing with a "Lottery Cake" are , from left, Newest lottery millionaires, from left, Leon Peck of Johnstown, N.Y. Lottery Director Gordon Medencia Kristin Baldwin of Clifton Park, Mike Barth of Bethlehem, the Lottery's Yolanda Vega, Tracy Sussman of Colonie, John Kutey of Green Island, Gabrielle Mahar of Colonie and John Hilton of North Greenbush during a news conference at the New York Lottery offices in Schenectady Thursday morning March 31, 2011. The seven winners of the $319 million Mega Millions, are state workers with the NYS Homes and Community Renewal and bought the winning ticket at Coulson's, around the corner from their downtown Albany office. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) Posing with a "Lottery Cake" are , from left, Newest lottery millionaires, from left, Leon Peck of Johnstown, N.Y. Lottery Director Gordon Medencia Kristin Baldwin of Clifton Park, Mike Barth of Bethlehem, the ... more Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 14 of 15 One of seven new lottery millionaires, John Hilton of North Greenbush, center, recounts his experience to the Lottery's Yolanda Vega during a news conference at the New York Lottery offices in Schenectady Thursday morning March 31, 2011. The seven winners of the $319 million Mega Millions, are state workers with the NYS Homes and Community Renewal and bought the winning ticket at Coulson's, around the corner from their downtown Albany office. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) One of seven new lottery millionaires, John Hilton of North Greenbush, center, recounts his experience to the Lottery's Yolanda Vega during a news conference at the New York Lottery offices in Schenectady ... more Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 15 of 15 After taxes, it's still a fortune 1 / 15 Back to Gallery 
  
 Schenectady 
  
 The $319 million lottery ticket, palm-sized and flimsy enough to blow away in a gust of wind, burned in John Hilton's hands, a stigmata that had marked seven state workers with seemingly unworldly fortunes. 
  
 But if the slip of paper with six magical numbers was lost or stolen, the four men and three women would go back to being just a random assemblage of public employees: five IT specialists and two project managers at New York State Homes and Community Renewal in Albany. 
  
 Hilton placed the ticket into a plastic zip lock bag, stuffed that bag into a second one, pushed it deep into a 5-pound bucket of bird feed from his garage and carried the bucket into the basement, where he hid it. 
  
 Earlier that Saturday, Hilton had driven to the office at the Hampton Plaza on State Street, a few steps from Coulson's, the Broadway newsstand where co-worker Mike Barth bought the ticket Friday afternoon. 
  
 Barth had left it unsecured in his desk drawer, but he was with his son Saturday on a campus tour at the University at Buffalo. He spoke with Hilton, who agreed to retrieve the ticket for safekeeping. 
  
 "I need a bodyguard," Hilton thought, and tapped his son to ride along while he transferred the ticket to their home in North Greenbush. 
  
 Hilton was fidgety harboring the secret. 
  
 "He was like Gollum in 'The Lord of the Rings,' protecting the ticket like it was his 'precious,' " said Barth, 63, of Bethlehem. 
  
 Hilton, 57, was relieved when he handed off the ticket on Sunday, still in the bucket, when the lucky seven met at the Clifton Park home of Kristin Baldwin, 42. 
  
 The first plan was to store the ticket in a safe deposit box. But nobody had one. They called a banker friend and learned they couldn't get one until Monday. 
  
 Baldwin's husband remembered they had a fireproof lockbox that they'd never used. They placed the ticket inside and hid it in their home. 
  
 The winners made a pact to take the ticket as a group the next day, Monday, to lottery headquarters in Schenectady where they made it official. They signed a form that confirmed that they had the ticket with the numbers: 22, 24, 31, 52, 54 and Mega Ball 4. The only winning sequence had been generated as a Quick Pick. 
  
 More Information 
  
 The $319 million is the largest jackpot in state lottery history and the fifth-largest in the history of Mega Millions, which is played in 41 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 
  
 Each chose the lump-sum option of $19,129,571 -- after state and federal taxes. 
  
 For six surreal days, none of them returned to work, living in a kind of self-imposed lockdown. They conferred with relatives, tax attorneys and financial advisers. They made themselves scarce. Loyal co-workers closed ranks and did not reveal their identities. 
  
 On Thursday, the winners seemed nervous as they faced a media scrum, with CNN and "Inside Edition" joining the local outlets. 
  
 The winners are techies, comfortable with the cold logic of computer code. Hitting the Mega Millions was a bolt of pure mojo. 
  
 John Kutey, 54, of Green Island, recalled that his hands shook so badly when he learned they had won that he couldn't dial a phone. 
  
 Prompted by questions from bubbly lottery personality Yolanda Vega, the winners offered a recap of those crowded hours when it dawned on them that they were multimillionaires. 
  
 All indicated they were doubtful that they would return to state employment, where their compensation was in the $80,000 range. With their $19.1 million, invested conservatively and assuming a 5 percent return, they can expect to draw about $950,000 a year without draining the principal. 
  
 The game-changer was set in motion Friday afternoon, when Barth collected $2 from himself and six co-workers. They were among a dozen in the IT unit who played as a group for years, but only when a jackpot climbed above $100 million. Barth kept a list of names because the number of bettors was fluid. If someone was on vacation, out of the office or did not choose to play that time for whatever reason, he crossed the name off his list. That meant ,they were not entitled to share in any winnings. Everyone understood those were the rules, the group said. 
  
 Barth took the $14 next door to Coulson's at 2:40 p.m. where a small queue had formed for lottery tickets. When Barth's turn came up, he spied a Snickers Dark candy bar and leaned over to snag it when a guy cut in front of him. He thought it was rude, but said nothing. 
  
 "He might have won the winning ticket instead of me," Barth mused Thursday. 
  
 Mahar, 29, of Colonie, was the first in the group to realize they had the winner. She was watching the 11 o'clock news with her boyfriend Friday night when the winning numbers crawled across the screen. 
  
 After checking and rechecking the winning numbers against the photocopy, she excitedly told her boyfriend, Scott Conklin, a co-worker in human resources. She called a close friend and her mother. 
  
 At Thursday's media event, someone shouted at Mahar from the packed lottery lobby: "Are you married?' 
  
 Flustered, she replied, "Not yet." 
  
 Mahar is a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She was a Tulip Queen finalist in 2001 who told pageant officials that she hoped to have her own business one day. 
  
 Kutey, 54, and his wife, Lynda, of Green Island are planning a trip to Disney World, the couple's annual vacation destination. 
  
 "I don't have any big plans. I haven't been able to adjust to it yet," said Tracy Sussman, 41, of Colonie, who is single, and who looks forward to spoiling a niece and nephew. 
  
 "I think the other five are happy for us," said Sussman. She avoided answering questions about whether they'd share any of their winnings with the five left out. 
  
 When he got his early-morning phone call on Saturday, Leon Peck, 62, of Johnstown, said he thought it was the office calling to say a server was down again. It was Mahar. "We hit the Mega," she said. "What?" Peck asked -- several times. 
  
 Barth proved to be the group's resident quipster. "My family got bigger all of a sudden," he said. He also joked that he was glad state lawmakers did not try to pass the "millionaire's tax." 
  
 On Thursday, Mahar was the only winner with a specific purchase in mind: "I just want a dishwasher." 
  
 She and her boyfriend have been taking turns washing the dishes by hand in her small, tidy bungalow. But not for long. 
  
 Reach Paul Grondahl at 454-5623 or pgrondahl@timesunion.com. |||||

Write a summary.
– How’s this for karma: A man in Albany pushed ahead in line for a Mega Millions lottery ticket—and the guy he shoved aside got the winning Quick Pick. The man “actually cut in front of me to buy a ticket,” said Mike Barth. “I thought about saying something but let it slide.” His coworkers are thanking him: Six of them bought the ticket as a group, so they’re due $19.1 million each after taxes, the Times Union reports. “There is pretty much no better comeback than, ‘Thanks for the $319 million, jerkoff,’” notes the Daily Intel blog. The winners, all state IT workers, range in age from 29 to 63. Click here to read about the poor soul who decided not to go in on the ticket with the lucky six, even though he normally did.
grymma vändningar av ödet Mega Millions vinnare kan tacka stackars beteende för Good Fortune Om inte för någon kille som skär framför honom i kön, Mike Barth skulle ha missat att köpa den vinnande Mega Millions lotten för honom och hans sex medarbetare. Det finns ingen bättre comeback än: "Tack för de 319 miljonerna, idiot." [Times Union via NPR] »» Efter skatter är det fortfarande en förmögenhet Statsarbetare som var och en vann $ 19M återkalla helgen av spänd spänning Foto: John Carl D'Annibale Bild 1 av / 15 Bild Stäng Bild 1 av 15 En av sju nya lotteri miljonärer Gabrielle Mahar, kvar, av Colonie får en kyss från Boyfriend Scott Conklin av Albany efter en nyhetskonferens på New York Lotteri kontor i Schenectady torsdag morgon 31 mars 2011. De sju vinnarna av $ 319 miljoner Mega Millions, är statliga arbetare med NYS Homes och Community Renewal och köpte den vinnande biljetten på Coulsons, runt hörnet från deras centrala Albany kontor. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) En av sju nya lotteri miljonärer Gabrielle Mahar, kvar, av Colonie får en kyss från Boyfriend Scott Conklin av Albany efter en nyhetskonferens på New York Lottery kontor i Schenectady torsdag morgon ... mer Foto: John Carl D'Annibale Image 2 av 15 Nyaste lotteri miljonärer, från vänster, Leon Peck av Johnstown, Kristin Baldwin av Clifton Park, Mike Barth av Betlehem, Tracy Sussman av Colonie, John Kutey av Green Island, Gabrielle Mahar av Colonie och John Hilton av North Greenbush under en nyhetskonferens på New York Lottery kontor i Schenectady torsdag morgon 31 mars 2011. De sju vinnarna av $ 319 miljoner Mega Millions, är statliga arbetare med NYS Homes och Community Renewal och köpte den vinnande biljetten på Coulsons, runt hörnet från deras centrala Albany kontor. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) Nyaste lotteri miljonärer, från vänster, Leon Peck av Johnstown, Kristin Baldwin av Clifton Park, Mike Barth av Betlehem, Tracy Sussman av Colonie, John Kutey av Green Island, Gabrielle Mahar av Colonie och ... mer Foto: John Carl D'Annibale Bild 3 av 15 I denna fil fotografi, John Kutey, och hans fru, Lynda, båda av Green Island, skridskoåkning på Rollarama Skating Center i Schenectady på onsdag, Feb. 17, 2010. (Times Union) ? I detta filfotografi, John Kutey, och hans fru, Lynda, båda på Green Island, skridskoåkning på Rollarama Skating Center i Schenectady på onsdagen den 17 februari 2010. (Times Union) ? Bild 4 av 15 I denna fil fotografi, John Kutey, och hans fru, Lynda, båda på Green Island, skridskoåkning på Rollarama Skating Center i Schenectady på onsdag, Feb. 17, 2010. (Times Union) ? I detta filfotografi, John Kutey, och hans fru, Lynda, båda på Green Island, skridskoåkning på Rollarama Skating Center i Schenectady på onsdagen den 17 februari 2010. (Times Union) ? Bild 5 av 15 Mega Millions vinnare Tracy Sussman, 41, av Colonie, under en nyhetskonferens på de statliga lotteri kontor i Schenectady på torsdagen den 31 mars 2011. Hon och sex andra vinnare av $ 319 miljoner Mega Millions är statliga arbetare med Office of Homes och Community Renewal. De köpte den vinnande lotten på Coulsons newstand i centrala Albany, som ligger runt hörnet från deras kontor. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) Mega Millions vinnare Tracy Sussman, 41, av Colonie, under en nyhetskonferens på de statliga lotterikontoren i Schenectady på torsdagen den 31 mars 2011. Hon och sex andra vinnare av $ 319 miljoner Mega ... mer Foto: John Carl D'Annibale Image 6 av 15 Mega Millions vinnare John Kutey, 54, av Green Island, under en nyhetskonferens på New York Lottery kontor i Schenectady på torsdagen den 31 mars 2011. Han och sex andra vinnare av $ 319 miljoner Mega Millions är statliga arbetare med Office of Homes och Community Renewal. De köpte den vinnande lotten på Coulsons newstand i centrala Albany, som ligger runt hörnet från deras kontor. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) Mega Millions vinnare John Kutey, 54, av Green Island, under en nyhetskonferens på New York Lottery kontor i Schenectady på torsdagen den 31 mars 2011. Han och sex andra vinnare av $ 319 miljoner Mega ... mer Foto: John Carl D'Annibale Image 7 av 15 Mega Millions vinnare Gabrielle Mahar, 29, av Colonie, under en nyhetskonferens på New York Lottery kontor i Schenectady torsdag morgon 31 mars 2011. Hon och sex andra vinnare av $ 319 miljoner Mega Millions är statliga arbetare med Office of Homes och Community Renewal. De köpte den vinnande lotten på Coulsons newstand i centrala Albany, som ligger runt hörnet från deras kontor. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) Mega Millions vinnare Gabrielle Mahar, 29, av Colonie, under en nyhetskonferens på New York Lottery kontor i Schenectady torsdag morgon 31 mars 2011. Hon och sex andra vinnare av $ 319 miljoner Mega ... mer Foto: John Carl D'Annibale Bild 8 av 15 Mega Millions vinnare Mike Barth, 63, av Betlehem, under en nyhetskonferens på de statliga lotteri kontor i Schenectady torsdag, 31 mars 2011. Han och sex andra vinnare av $ 319 miljoner Mega Millions är statliga arbetare med Office of Homes och Community Renewal. De köpte den vinnande lotten på Coulsons newstand i centrala Albany, som ligger runt hörnet från deras kontor. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) Mega Millions vinnare Mike Barth, 63, av Betlehem, under en nyhetskonferens på de statliga lotterikontoren i Schenectady torsdagen den 31 mars 2011. Han och sex andra vinnare av $ 319 miljoner Mega Millions är ... mer Foto: John Carl D'Annibale Image 9 av 15 Mega Millions vinnare John Hilton, 57, av North Greenbush, under en nyhetskonferens på det statliga lotteri kontor i Schenectady på torsdagen den 31 mars 2011. Han och sex andra vinnare av $ 319 miljoner Mega Millions är statliga arbetare med Office of Homes och Community Renewal. De köpte den vinnande lotten på Coulsons newstand i centrala Albany, som ligger runt hörnet från deras kontor. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) Mega Millions vinnare John Hilton, 57, av North Greenbush, under en nyhetskonferens på de statliga lotterikontoren i Schenectady på torsdagen den 31 mars 2011. Han och sex andra vinnare av $ 319 miljoner Mega ... mer Foto: John Carl D'Annibale Bild 10 av 15 Mega Millions vinnare Kristin Baldwin, 42, av Clifton Park, under en nyhetskonferens på det statliga lotteri kontor i Schenectady på torsdagen den 31 mars 2011. Hon och sex andra vinnare av $ 319 miljoner Mega Millions är statliga arbetare med Office of Homes och Community Renewal. De köpte den vinnande lotten på Coulsons newstand i centrala Albany, som ligger runt hörnet från deras kontor. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) Mega Millions vinnare Kristin Baldwin, 42, av Clifton Park, under en nyhetskonferens på de statliga Lotterikontoren i Schenectady på torsdagen den 31 mars 2011. Hon och sex andra vinnare av $ 319 miljoner Mega ... mer Foto: John Carl D'Annibale Bild 11 av 15 Mega Millions vinnare Leon Peck, 62, av Johnstown, under en nyhetskonferens på det statliga lotteri kontor i Schenectady på torsdagen den 31 mars 2011. Han och sex andra vinnare av $ 319 miljoner Mega Millions är statliga arbetare med Office of Homes och Community Renewal. De köpte den vinnande lotten på Coulsons newstand i centrala Albany, som ligger runt hörnet från deras kontor. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) Mega Millions vinnare Leon Peck, 62, av Johnstown, under en nyhetskonferens på de statliga lotterikontoren i Schenectady på torsdagen den 31 mars 2011. Han och sex andra vinnare av $ 319 miljoner Mega Millions är ... mer Foto: John Carl D'Annibale Bild 12 av 15 I detta fotografi, framtida Mega Millions vinnare Gabrielle Mahar, rätt, kan ses med andra 2001 Tulip Queen kandidater under en presskonferens utanför Albanys stadshus, onsdagen den 2 maj 2001 . Från vänster finns : Kristy Kruse; Shannon Rivers; Andrea Drago; Amy Kaplan; och Mahar. I detta fotografi, framtida Mega Millions vinnare Gabrielle Mahar, rätt, kan ses med andra 2001 Tulip Queen kandidater under en presskonferens utanför Albanys stadshus, onsdagen den 2 maj 2001 . Från ... mer Bild 13 av 15 Posing med en "Lottery Cake" är, från vänster, Nyaste lotteri miljonärer, från vänster, Leon Peck av Johnstown, N.Y. Lotteridirektör Gordon Medencia Kristin Baldwin av Clifton Park, Mike Barth av Betlehem, Lotterys Yolanda Vega, Tracy Sussman av Colonie, John Kutey av Green Island, Gabrielle Mahar av Colonie och John Hilton av North Greenbush under en nyhetskonferens på New York Lottery kontor i Schenectady torsdag morgon 31 mars 2011. De sju vinnarna av $ 319 miljoner Mega Millions, är statliga arbetare med NYS Homes och Community Renewal och köpte den vinnande biljetten på Coulsons, runt hörnet från deras centrala Albany kontor. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) Posering med en "Lottery Cake" är, från vänster, Nyaste lotteri miljonärer, från vänster, Leon Peck av Johnstown, N.Y. Lotteridirektör Gordon Medencia Kristin Baldwin av Clifton Park, Mike Barth av Betlehem, den ... mer Foto: John Carl D'Annibale Bild 14 av 15 En av sju nya lotteri miljonärer, John Hilton av North Greenbush, center, berättar sin erfarenhet till Lottery's Yolanda Vega under en nyhetskonferens på New York Lottery kontor i Schenectady torsdag morgon 31 mars 2011. De sju vinnarna av $ 319 miljoner Mega Millions, är statliga arbetare med NYS Homes och Community Renewal och köpte den vinnande biljetten på Coulsons, runt hörnet från deras centrala Albany kontor. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) En av sju nya lotteri miljonärer, John Hilton av North Greenbush, center, berättar sin erfarenhet till Lottery's Yolanda Vega under en nyhetskonferens på New York Lottery kontor i Schenectady ... mer Foto: John Carl D'Annibale Bild 15 av 15 Efter skatter, det är fortfarande en förmögenhet 1 / 15 Tillbaka till Galleri Schenectady Den $ 319 miljoner lotteri biljett, palmstorlek och klen nog att blåsa bort i en vindpust, bränd i John Hiltons händer, en stigmata som hade märkt sju statliga arbetare med till synes oworldly förmögenheter. Men om papperslappen med sex magiska nummer gick förlorad eller stals, skulle de fyra männen och tre kvinnorna gå tillbaka till att bara vara en slumpmässig samling av offentliga anställda: fem IT-specialister och två projektledare på New York State Homes och Community Renewal i Albany. Hilton la biljetten i en plastpåse med blixtlås, stoppade ner den i en andra väska, tryckte ner den djupt i en fem kilos hink med fågelmat från sitt garage och bar ner hinken i källaren, där han gömde den. Tidigare samma lördag hade Hilton kört till kontoret på Hampton Plaza på State Street, några steg från Coulsons, Broadways nyhetsstånd där medarbetaren Mike Barth köpte biljetten fredag eftermiddag. Barth hade lämnat den olåst i sin skrivbordslåda, men han var med sin son på lördag på en campusturné vid universitetet i Buffalo. Han pratade med Hilton, som gick med på att hämta biljetten för förvaring. "Jag behöver en livvakt", tänkte Hilton, och knackade sin son att rida med medan han överförde biljetten till deras hem i North Greenbush. Hilton höll tyst om hemligheten. "Han var som Gollum i 'Sagan om ringen', som skyddade biljetten som om den var hans 'ädel', sade Barth, 63, från Betlehem. Hilton, 57 år, blev lättad när han lämnade av biljetten på söndagen, fortfarande i hinken, då de lyckliga sju möttes på Clifton Park hemma hos Kristin Baldwin, 42. Den första planen var att förvara biljetten i ett bankfack. Men ingen hade en. De ringde en bankman och fick veta att de inte kunde få en förrän på måndag. Baldwins man kom ihåg att de hade en brandsäker låsbox som de aldrig hade använt. De placerade biljetten där inne och gömde den i sitt hem. Vinnarna slöt en pakt om att ta lotten som grupp dagen därpå, måndag, till lotteriets högkvarter i Schenectady där de gjorde den officiell. De undertecknade ett formulär som bekräftade att de hade biljetten med siffrorna: 22, 24, 31, 52, 54 och Mega Ball 4. Den enda vinnande sekvensen hade genererats som en Quick Pick. Mer information Den $ 319 miljoner är den största jackpotten i delstaten lotteri historia och den femte största i historien om Mega Millions, som spelas i 41 stater, Washington, D.C., och USA Jungfruöarna. Var och en valde klumpsummealternativet på $19.129.571 -- efter delstats- och federala skatter. Under sex surrealistiska dagar återvände ingen av dem till arbetet, och levde i en sorts självpåtagen nedstängning. De överlade med släktingar, skattejurister och ekonomiska rådgivare. De gjorde sig knappa. Lojala medarbetare slöt leden och avslöjade inte sina identiteter. På torsdag verkade vinnarna nervösa när de mötte en mediaknull, med CNN och "Inside Edition" går med i de lokala butikerna. Vinnarna är tekniker, bekväma med den kalla logiken i datorkod. Att träffa Mega Millions var en bult av ren mojo. John Kutey, 54, från Green Island, påminde sig att hans händer skakade så illa när han fick veta att de hade vunnit att han inte kunde ringa en telefon. Vinnarna fick frågor från Yolanda Vega, och de fick en sammanfattning av de överfyllda timmarna när det gick upp för dem att de var mångmiljonärer. Alla antydde att de var tveksamma till att de skulle återgå till statlig anställning, där deras ersättning låg i intervallet 80 000 dollar. Med sina 19.1 miljoner dollar, investerade konservativt och förutsatte en avkastning på 5 procent, kan de räkna med att få omkring 950.000 dollar om året utan att tömma huvudmannen. Spelbytaren sattes i rörelse fredag eftermiddag, då Barth samlade in 2 dollar från sig själv och sex medarbetare. De var bland ett dussin i IT-enheten som spelade som grupp i flera år, men bara när en jackpot klättrade över $100 miljoner. Barth behöll en namnlista eftersom antalet spelare var flytande. Om någon var på semester, ut ur kontoret eller inte valde att spela den tiden av någon anledning, strök han namnet från sin lista. Det innebar , de hade inte rätt att dela på några vinster. Alla förstod att det var reglerna, sade gruppen. Barth tog med sig de 14 dollarna bredvid till Coulsons klockan 14.40 där en liten kö hade bildats för lotter. När Barths tur dök upp, spionerade han på en Snickers Dark godiskaka och lutade sig fram för att sno den när en kille skar sig framför honom. Han tyckte, att det var ohövligt, men sade ingenting. "Han kan ha vunnit den vinnande lotten istället för mig", mosade Barth torsdag. Mahar, 29, av Colonie, var den första i gruppen som insåg att de hade vinnaren. Hon tittade på 11-nyheterna med sin pojkvän på fredag kväll när vinnarnumren kröp över skärmen. Efter att ha kontrollerat och kontrollerat de vinnande siffrorna mot fotokopian berättade hon entusiastiskt för sin pojkvän, Scott Conklin, en medarbetare i mänskliga resurser. Hon ringde en nära vän och sin mor. Vid torsdagens mediaevenemang skrek någon åt Mahar från den packade lotterilobbyn: "Är du gift?' Flustererad svarade hon: »Inte än.» Mahar är utexaminerad från Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Hon var en Tulip Queen-finalist 2001 som berättade för tävlande tjänstemän att hon hoppades få en egen verksamhet en dag. Kutey, 54, och hans fru, Lynda, på Green Island planerar en resa till Disney World, parets årliga semestermål. "Jag har inga stora planer. Jag har inte kunnat anpassa mig till det ännu», sade Tracy Sussman, 41, av Colonie, som är ogift, och som ser fram emot att få skämma bort en brorsdotter och brorson. "Jag tror att de andra fem är glada för oss", sade Sussman. Hon undvek att svara på frågor om huruvida de skulle dela någon av sina vinster med de fem utanför. När han fick sitt tidiga telefonsamtal på lördagen sa Leon Peck, 62, från Johnstown, att han trodde att det var kontoret som ringde för att säga att en server var nere igen. Det var Mahar. "Vi körde på Megan", sa hon. "Vad?" Peck frågade -- flera gånger. Barth visade sig vara gruppens bofaste quipster. "Min familj blev plötsligt större", sa han. Han skämtade också om att han var glad över att statliga lagstiftare inte försökte passera "miljonärsskatten". På torsdagen var Mahar den enda vinnaren med ett specifikt köp i åtanke: "Jag vill bara ha en diskmaskin." Hon och hennes pojkvän har turats om att diska för hand i sin lilla, prydliga bungalow. Men inte länge till. Nå Paul Grondahl på 454-5623 eller pgrondahl@timesunion.com. Skriv en sammanfattning.
cruel twists of fate Mega Millions winners can thank poor behavior for Good Fortune Unless for any guy cutting in front of him in line, Mike Barth would have missed buying the winning Mega Millions lot for him and his six associates. There's no better comeback than, "Thank you for the 319 million, idiot." [Times Union via NPR]  After taxes it is still a fortune State workers who each won $19M recalling the weekend of tense tension Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 1 of / 15 Image Close Image 1 of 15 One of seven new lottery millionaires Gabrielle Mahar, left, of Colonie receives a kiss from Boyfriend Scott Conklin of Albany after a news conference at the New York Lottery office in Schenectady Thursday morning March 31, 2011. The seven winners of the $319 million Mega Millions, are government workers with NYS Homes and Community Renewal and bought the winning ticket at Coulsons, around the corner from their central Albany office. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) One of seven new lottery millionaires Gabrielle Mahar, left, by Colonie gets a kiss from Boyfriend Scott Conklin of Albany after a news conference at the New York Lottery office in Schenectady Thursday morning ... more Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 2 of 15 Newest lottery millionaires, from left, Leon Peck of Johnstown, Kristin Baldwin of Clifton Park, Mike Barth of Bethlehem, Tracy Sussman of Colonie, John Kutey of Green Island, Gabrielle Mahar of Colonie and John Hilton of North Greenbush during a news conference at the New York Lottery office in Schenectady Thursday March 31, 2011. The seven winners of the $319 million Mega Millions, are government workers with NYS Homes and Community Renewal and bought the winning ticket at Coulsons, around the corner from their central Albany office. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) Newest lottery millionaires, from left, Leon Peck of Johnstown, Kristin Baldwin of Clifton Park, Mike Barth of Bethlehem, Tracy Sussman of Colonie, John Kutey of Green Island, Gabrielle Mahar of Colonie and ... more Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 3 of 15 In this file photograph, John Kutey, and his wife, Lynda, both of Green Island, skating at the Rollarama Skating Center in Schenectady on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010. (Times Union) ? In this file photograph, John Kutey, and his wife, Lynda, both on Green Island, skating at the Rollarama Skating Center in Schenectady on Wednesday, February 17, 2010. (Times Union) ? Picture 4 of 15 In this file photograph, John Kutey, and his wife, Lynda, both on Green Island, skating at the Rollarama Skating Center in Schenectady on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010. (Times Union) ? In this file photograph, John Kutey, and his wife, Lynda, both on Green Island, skating at the Rollarama Skating Center in Schenectady on Wednesday, February 17, 2010. (Times Union) ? Image 5 of 15 Mega Millions winners Tracy Sussman, 41, of Colonie, during a news conference at the state lottery offices in Schenectady on Thursday, March 31, 2011. She and six other winners of the $319 million Mega Millions are government workers with the Office of Homes and Community Renewal. They bought the winning ticket at Coulson's newsstand in downtown Albany, located around the corner from their office. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) Mega Millions winner Tracy Sussman, 41, of Colonie, during a news conference at the state lottery offices in Schenectady on Thursday, March 31, 2011. She and six other winners of $319 million Mega ... more Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 6 of 15 Mega Millions winner John Kutey, 54, of Green Island, during a news conference at the New York Lottery office in Schenectady on Thursday, March 31, 2011. He and six other winners of the $319 million Mega Millions are government workers with the Office of Homes and Community Renewal. They bought the winning ticket at Coulson's newsstand in downtown Albany, located around the corner from their office. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) Mega Millions winner John Kutey, 54, of Green Island, during a news conference at the New York Lottery office in Schenectady on Thursday, March 31, 2011. He and six other winners of $319 million Mega ... more Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 7 of 15 Mega Millions winner Gabrielle Mahar, 29, of Colonie, during a news conference at the New York Lottery office in Schenectady Thursday morning March 31, 2011. She and six other winners of the $319 million Mega Millions are government workers with the Office of Homes and Community Renewal. They bought the winning ticket at Coulson's newsstand in downtown Albany, located around the corner from their office. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) Mega Millions winner Gabrielle Mahar, 29, of Colonie, during a news conference at the New York Lottery office in Schenectady Thursday morning March 31, 2011. She and six other winners of $319 million Mega ... more Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 8 of 15 Mega Millions winners Mike Barth, 63, of Bethlehem, during a news conference at the state lottery offices in Schenectady Thursday, March 31, 2011. He and six other winners of the $319 million Mega Millions are government workers with the Office of Homes and Community Renewal. They bought the winning ticket at Coulson's newsstand in downtown Albany, located around the corner from their office. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) Mega Millions winner Mike Barth, 63, of Bethlehem, during a news conference at the state lottery offices in Schenectady on Thursday, March 31, 2011. He and six other winners of the $319 million Mega Millions are ... more Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 9 of 15 Mega Millions winner John Hilton, 57, of North Greenbush, during a news conference at the state lottery office in Schenectady on Thursday, March 31, 2011. He and six other winners of the $319 million Mega Millions are government workers with the Office of Homes and Community Renewal. They bought the winning ticket at Coulson's newsstand in downtown Albany, located around the corner from their office. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) Mega Millions winner John Hilton, 57, of North Greenbush, during a news conference at the state lottery offices in Schenectady on Thursday, March 31, 2011. He and six other winners of $319 million Mega ... more Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 10 of 15 Mega Millions winner Kristin Baldwin, 42, of Clifton Park, during a news conference at the state lottery office in Schenectady on Thursday, March 31, 2011. She and six other winners of the $319 million Mega Millions are government workers with the Office of Homes and Community Renewal. They bought the winning ticket at Coulson's newsstand in downtown Albany, located around the corner from their office. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) Mega Millions winner Kristin Baldwin, 42, of Clifton Park, during a news conference at the state Lottery offices in Schenectady on Thursday, March 31, 2011. She and six other winners of $319 million Mega ... more Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 11 of 15 Mega Millions winners Leon Peck, 62, of Johnstown, during a news conference at the state lottery office in Schenectady on Thursday, March 31, 2011. He and six other winners of the $319 million Mega Millions are government workers with the Office of Homes and Community Renewal. They bought the winning ticket at Coulson's newsstand in downtown Albany, located around the corner from their office. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) Mega Millions winner Leon Peck, 62, of Johnstown, during a news conference at the state lottery offices in Schenectady on Thursday, March 31, 2011. He and six other winners of the $319 million Mega Millions are ... more Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 12 of 15 In this photograph, future Mega Millions winner Gabrielle Mahar, right, can be seen with other 2001 Tulip Queen candidates during a press conference outside Albany City Hall, Wednesday, May 2, 2001 . From the left are : Kristy Kruse; Shannon Rivers; Andrea Drago; Amy Kaplan; and Mahar. In this photograph, future Mega Millions winner Gabrielle Mahar, right, can be seen with other 2001 Tulip Queen candidates during a press conference outside Albany City Hall, Wednesday, May 2, 2001 . From ... more Image 13 of 15 Posing with a "Lottery Cake" is, from left, Newest lottery millionaires, from left, Leon Peck of Johnstown, N.Y. Lottery Director Gordon Medencia Kristin Baldwin of Clifton Park, Mike Barth of Bethlehem, Lottery's Yolanda Vega, Tracy Sussman of Colonie, John Kutey of Green Island, Gabrielle Mahar of Colonie and John Hilton of North Greenbush during a news conference at the New York Lottery office in Schenectady Thursday March 31, 2011. The seven winners of the $319 million Mega Millions, are government workers with NYS Homes and Community Renewal and bought the winning ticket at Coulsons, around the corner from their central Albany office. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) Posing with a "Lottery Cake" is, from the left, Newest lottery millionaires, from the left, Leon Peck of Johnstown, N.Y. Lottery Director Gordon Medencia Kristin Baldwin of Clifton Park, Mike Barth of Bethlehem, the ... more Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 14 of 15 One of seven new lottery millionaires, John Hilton of North Greenbush, center, tells his experience to Lottery's Yolanda Vega during a news conference at the New York Lottery office in Schenectady Thursday March 31, 2011. The seven winners of the $319 million Mega Millions, are government workers with NYS Homes and Community Renewal and bought the winning ticket at Coulsons, around the corner from their central Albany office. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) One of seven new lottery millionaires, John Hilton of North Greenbush, center, tells his experience to Lottery's Yolanda Vega during a news conference at the New York Lottery office in Schenectady ... more Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 15 of 15 After taxes, it's still a fortune 1/15 Back to Gallery Schenectady The $319 million lottery ticket, palm size and feeble enough to blow away in a gust of wind, burned in John Hilton's hands, a stigmata that had marked seven state workers with seemingly unworldly fortunes. However, if the six - magic - number piece of paper were lost or stolen, the four men and three women would go back to being just a random collection of public employees: five IT specialists and two project managers at New York State Homes and Community Renewal in Albany. Hilton put the ticket in a plastic bag with a zipper, shoved it into a second bag, shoved it deep into a five-pound bucket of bird food from his garage, and carried the bucket down into the basement, where he hid it. Earlier that Saturday, Hilton had driven to the office at Hampton Plaza on State Street, a few steps from the Coulsons, Broadway newsstand where employee Mike Barth bought the ticket Friday afternoon. Barth had left it unlocked in his desk drawer, but he was with his son on Saturday on a campus tour of the University of Buffalo. He talked to Hilton, who agreed to pick up the ticket for storage. "I need a bodyguard," thought Hilton, knocking his son to ride along while transferring the ticket to their home in North Greenbush. Hilton kept his secret quiet. "He was like Gollum in 'The Lord of the Rings', who protected the ticket as if it were his 'blasphemous', said Barth, 63, from Bethlehem. Hilton, aged 57, was relieved when he dropped off the ticket on Sunday, still in the bucket, when the lucky seven met at Clifton Park at Kristin Baldwin's home, 42. The first plan was to store the ticket in a safe deposit box. But nobody had one. They called a banker and found out they couldn't get one until Monday. Baldwin's husband remembered that they had a fireproof lockbox that they had never used. They put the ticket in there and hid it in their home. The winners made a pact to take the lottery as a group the next day, Monday, to the lottery headquarters in Schenectady where they made it official. They signed a form confirming they had the ticket with the numbers: 22, 24, 31, 52, 54 and Mega Ball 4. The only winning sequence had been generated as a Quick Pick. More information The $319 million is the largest jackpot in the state lottery history and the fifth largest in the history of Mega Millions, played in 41 states, Washington, D.C., and the United States Virgin Islands. Each selected the lump sum option of $19,129,571 -- by state and federal taxes. For six surreal days none of them returned to work, living in a sort of self-imposed lockdown. They deliberated with relatives, tax lawyers, and financial advisers. They made themselves scarce. Loyal associates joined ranks and did not reveal their identities. On Thursday, the winners seemed nervous when they faced a media fuck, with CNN and "Inside Edition" joining the local stores. The winners are technicians, comfortable with the cold logic of computer code. Meeting Mega Millions was a bolt of pure mojo. John Kutey, 54, from Green Island, recalled that his hands shook so badly when he learned that they had won that he could not call a phone. The winners received questions from Yolanda Vega, and they received a summary of the overcrowded hours when it dawned on them that they were multimillionaires. All indicated that they were hesitant that they would return to government employment, where their compensation was in the range of $80,000. With its $19.1 million, invested conservatively and assuming a return of 5 percent, they can expect to receive about $950,000 a year without emptying the principal. The game changer was set in motion Friday afternoon, when Barth raised $2 from himself and six associates. They were among a dozen in the IT device that played as a group for several years, but only when a jackpot climbed over $100 million. Barth retained a list of names because the number of players was fluent. If someone was on vacation, out of the office or did not choose to play that time for any reason, he deleted the name from his list. It meant, they had no right to share any profits. Everyone understood that those were the rules, the group said. Barth took the $14 next to him to Coulson's at 2:40 p.m. where a small queue had been formed for lottery tickets. When Barth's turn appeared, he spied on a Snickers Dark candy bar and leaned forward to steal it when a guy cut himself in front of him. He thought it was rude, but said nothing. "He may have won the winning ticket instead of me," Barth squashed Thursday. Mahar, 29, of Colonie, was the first in the group to realize they had the winner. She watched the 11 news with her boyfriend on Friday night when the winning numbers crawled over the screen. After checking and checking the winning numbers against the photocopy, she enthusiastically told her boyfriend, Scott Conklin, an associate in human resources. She called a close friend and her mother. At Thursday's media event, someone yelled at Mahar from the packed lottery lobby, "Are you married?' Flustered, she replied, "Not yet." Mahar is a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She was a 2001 Tulip Queen finalist who told competing officials that she hoped to have her own business one day. Kutey, 54, and his wife, Lynda, on Green Island are planning a trip to Disney World, the couple's annual holiday destination. "I don't have any big plans. I haven't been able to adjust to it yet," said Tracy Sussman, 41, of Colonie, who is unmarried, and who looks forward to spoiling a niece and nephew. "I think the other five are happy for us," said Sussman. She avoided answering questions as to whether they would share any of their winnings with the five outside. When he received his early phone call on Saturday, Leon Peck, 62, from Johnstown, said he thought it was the office calling to say a server was down again. It was Mahar. "We hit Megan," she said. "What?" Peck asked -- several times. Barth turned out to be the group's resident quipster. "My family suddenly got bigger," he said. He also joked that he was happy that state lawmakers did not try to pass the "millionaire tax". On Thursday, Mahar was the only winner with a specific purchase in mind: "I just want a dishwasher." She and her boyfriend have taken turns washing dishes by hand in their small, neat bungalow. But not for long. Reach Paul Grondahl at 454-5623 or pgrondahl@timesunion.com. Write a summary.
– Hur är detta för karma: En man i Albany sköt framåt i linje för en Mega Millions lott – och killen han knuffade åt sidan fick den vinnande Quick Pick. Mannen "egentligen skära framför mig för att köpa en biljett," sade Mike Barth. "Jag funderade på att säga något men låt det glida." Hans medarbetare tackar honom: Sex av dem köpte biljetten som en grupp, så de är skyldiga $ 19.1 miljoner vardera efter skatter, Times Union rapporterar. “Det finns ganska mycket ingen bättre comeback än, ‘Tack för $ 319 miljoner, jerkoff,’” konstaterar Daily Intel blogg. Vinnarna, alla statliga IT-arbetare, varierar i ålder från 29 till 63. Klicka här för att läsa om den stackars själen som bestämde sig för att inte gå in på biljetten med de lyckliga sex, även om han normalt gjorde det.
– How is this for karma: A man in Albany pushed forward in line for a Mega Millions lot – and the guy he pushed aside got the winning Quick Pick. The man "actually cut in front of me to buy a ticket," said Mike Barth. "I was thinking of saying something but let it slide." His associates thank him: Six of them bought the ticket as a group, so they owe $19.1 million each after taxes, Times Union reports. “There’s quite a lot of no better comeback than, ‘Thanks for the $319 million, jerkoff,’” notes the Daily Intel blog. The winners, all government IT workers, range in age from 29 to 63. Click here to read about the poor soul who decided not to go into the ticket with the happy sex, although he normally did.