Welcome to “Thursday Numbers!” I’m glad you stopped by!
If you are a new visitor, this is my weekly column where I take a look at the numbers that are in the news (in descending order) and provide commentary (sometimes with a little sarcasm).
NOTICE: By reading this column you may be able to use the information to impress your family, friends, and co-workers, so consider yourself warned.
This week I write about the Bush Library, Max Baucus, Brian Schweitzer, unemployment, elephant bird, National Guard job losses, Gun Owners for Reform, Approval ratings, Al Pacino, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kansas City Chiefs, and much more!250,000,000
According to the Los Angeles Times, “The George W. Bush Presidential Center, which includes the library, museum and institute, cost $250 million, paid for out of $500 million raised by the George W. Bush Foundation.” There are now 13 Presidential libraries. Private funds are raised to build the facilities and then they are turned over to the United States government and operated by the National Archives.
4,870,000
That’s how much money ($4.87 million) retiring Senator Max Baucus has in the bank for his reelection bid.
Since he has decided not to run, he will have several friends whose election bids he can help fund.
339,000
That’s how many people filed new claims for unemployment last week. That’s “a decrease of 16,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 355,000.”
Decreases are good!
101,813
That’s how much ($101,813) a “partly fossilized egg laid by a now-extinct elephant bird has sold for” during a London auction.
96
The Great Falls Tribune reported that the Montana Air National Guard will lose 31 part-time and 65 full-time civilian technical positions when they transition from fighter jets to cargo planes.
They will also lose Maverick, Goose, Viper, Iceman, and Jester…
87
The Montana Legislature adjourned yesterday after meeting for 87 days this session.
You can climb out of your bunkers now and survey the damage…
79
Gun Owners for Reform is running a full-page ad (Page A3) in today’s Great Falls Tribune telling Senator Max Baucus “It was wrong to vote ‘no’ on stopping gun violence. 79% of Montana Voters support background checks. Stand with us, not gun manufacturers.”
If they hold another vote in the U.S. Senate, will Baucus change his no vote to yes since he is not running for reelection?
73
Happy birthday to actor Al Pacino! He turns 73 today. I think we all need to hear Pacino’s “Any Given Sunday” speech one more time! It’s been viewed over 12 million times…
48
According to Gallup, Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has an unfavorable rating of 48%.
47
Former President George W. Bush left office with a 34% approval rating. Now his approval rating is 47%.
45
The Great Falls Tribune asked readers in one of their unscientific polls, “Who do you want to be the next Montana senator to replace Max Baucus?” Former Governor Brian Schweitzer came in first with 45% of the vote. He also won The Western Word poll conducted the day before.
43
Actor Jason Lee turns 43 today. He played Jeff Bebe, the lead singer of Stillwater in one of my favorite movies, “Almost Famous.” Here’s a clip from the movie.
41
According to Gallup, Speaker of the House John Boehner has an unfavorable rating of 41%.
IMHO he’s been a pretty weak Speaker…
40
Gwyneth Paltrow (40) has been named the world’s most beautiful woman for 2013 by People Magazine.
Enjoy…
11
Back in 2007, it was discovered and reported that Max Baucus “didn’t own a home in Montana for 11 years of his 29-year Senate career.”
At that time it was reported that Baucus had owned a “home in Washington, D.C.’s Georgetown district since 1984.”
1
My Kansas City Chiefs have the number one pick in tonight’s NFL draft.
Hopefully they will get back to the Promised Land before I die…
Follow me on Twitter @TheWesternWord
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The Western Word 