If it’s Thursday, then my faithful readers know that’s the day we take a look at the numbers and the stories behind the numbers here at The Western Word!

Today we look at unemployment claims, Facebook likes, campaign donations, lottery winnings, the cost of a home, veterans, a birthday, a home run, and much much more!

Since you’ve almost got this week conquered, it’s OK to take a few minutes and enjoy my Thursday Numbers column.  Psst…your boss is probably reading it, too.

417,000

That’s the number of people who filed first-time unemployment claims last week.   Not to worry, all the people who can help the situation are on vacation…

Things are really bad out there folks – if you have a job, consider yourself lucky…

200,000

That’s the amount won in Wolf Point, Montana, with two scratch tickets purchased at the same store by two different women.  They also happen to work at the store.

Ironic isn’t it?

3,000 and 11,000

GOP Presidential candidate Mitt Romney is tearing down his 3000 square-foot home to build an 11,000 square-foot home in California.

And these multi-millionaire politicians can relate to us how?

106,000 and 8,038

In Montana, there are more than 106,000 veterans. At least 8,038 of them are women.

7,430

That’s the number of people who “Like” Congressman Denny Rehberg on Facebook (as of this morning).

Rehberg has several pages on Facebook; this one is listed as “Government Official.”

4,648

That’s the number of people who “Like” Senator Jon Tester on Facebook (as of this morning).

Tester has several pages on Facebook; this one is listed as “Government Official.”

75

That’s how old John McCain will be on August 29.  How do I know this?  His wife sent me an e-mail asking me to send him money for his “Country First” Political Action Committee.

Politicians will try to raise money for about any reason, read on….

50

It will cost you $50 to spend a “Day on the Farm with Jon and Sharla Tester” on September 10.  For $500, you can attend a “Sponsors Dinner” at the Grand Union Hotel in Fort Benton that evening.

No word if Utz Cheese balls are being offered as hors d’oeuvres…but I bet you can get your photo taken with “the tractor!”

35

That’s the number of games the Houston Astros are back (behind the first place team) in the National League Central (as of this morning).  The Astros have a winning percentage of .323 – the worst in Major League Baseball (MLB).

They still get paid though…kind of reminds me of Congress…

29

A new poll from Gallup tells us that “Twenty-nine percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents nationwide say they are most likely to support [Rick] Perry…”

Romney is next at 17%.  Ron Paul comes in at 13% and Michele Bachmann comes in at 10%.

A double digit lead is impressive, but do the voters really know Rick Perry yet?

15

That’s the number of “premium pages” you are entitled to each month on some of Lee Newspaper websites here in Montana.  A pop-up screen gives the viewer the following message:

You are entitled to FREE access to 15 premium pages each month. Then, if you enjoy our website and want full access, we’ll ask you to purchase a subscription for as low as $1.99/month if you are a print subscriber, or $4.99/month for online-only access.

No thanks…

1

That’s the number of runs the Northwest Little League team (Big Sky All-Stars) from Billings, Montana, scored against the West team from California.  That was enough as Montana won the game 1-0 with a walk-off home-run in the bottom of the seventh.  Billings now plays for the U.S. championship on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

That was the first run allowed in the Little League World Series by the West team…

Thanks to the Billings team for taking our minds away from some of the bad things in the world and let us have a few hours to enjoy a game of pure baseball…we are proud of you!

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