For the last few weeks (on Thursdays) the “staffers” here at The Western Word have compiled some numbers that tell the readers about what is happening all across the fruited plains.

Today we take a look at debt, unemployment, data centers, cut, cap and balance, a gang, a consolidation, the NFL, MLB, REO, the Space Shuttle, some wine and much more!

So take a break from your daily grind and enjoy Thursday Numbers…

14,521,000,000,000:

That’s the amount of debt our country has (that was at 7:00 a.m. Mountain Time) and that is in trillions of dollars.

Amazing isn’t it?  Daddy’s credit card is just about maxed out…

418,000:

That’s the number of new claims for unemployment this week.  That is up 10,000 from last week’s number and the 15th straight week over 400,000.

The amount of new claims filed each week are not getting any lower and that should worry those who are in power (as if they really care). 

On another note, I’m thinking of developing a “drinking game” for those of us who are unemployed and keep getting rejection notices…

373:

That’s the number of duplicative data centers being closed across the United States.  There are two slated for closure in Montana; one for the Department of Interior in Billings and one for the EPA in Helena.

More folks to stand in the unemployment line…

234:

That’s the number of House members (including Montana Congressman Denny Rehberg) that voted for the “cut, cap and balance” bill Tuesday.  It passed 234-190.

Most folks say it has no chance of passing in the Senate.  Maybe it was symbolic?  But symbolism never put bread on the table…

50:

That’s the number of employees being affected by the consolidation of the Great Falls and Helena offices of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana.

More folks to stand in unemployment line…unless they want to move to Helena.  I have heard that Helena is not at the end of the world, but you can see it from there…

Maybe the “Gods” at BC/BS will approve Lipitor for me now instead of the generic crap…

32:

That’s the number of NFL football teams.  The fans of these teams hope the NFL lock out ends soon.

Note:  The best team of the 32 is the Kansas City Chiefs.

30:

That’s the number of Major League Baseball (MLB) teams.  The American League has 14 teams and the National League has 16 teams.

Every player is pretty rich…even those who play for the Kansas City Royals…

14:

That’s a brand of wine (14 Hands) from Washington State.

A friend (I have about two left) purchased a case for me in Washington…there are twelve bottles in a case, but that number was already taken this week…

12:

That’s the number of days until REO Speedwagon rocks the Montana State Fair!

You should really read yesterday’s column about the “Summer of 81.” 

6:

The “gang of six” debt plan seems to have the publicity these days in Washington to try and fix the mess with the debt.  Sen. Jon Tester reportedly likes the gang of six ideas, Rep. Denny Rehberg does not, and Sen. Max Baucus is non-committal.

I think it all comes down to which side “blinks first.”  Then the other side will declare victory. Too bad there are “sides” in all this and politics are involved. 

The three members of the Montana Congressional delegation are not members of  the “Gang of Six.”  I hear that discussions are underway to form a “posse” which is more western-themed.

0:

That’s the number of Space Shuttle missions left for NASA.  Zero.  John F. Kennedy would be sad today, not to mention Thomas Jefferson.

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