Congratulations!  You made it to 2012 and the first “Thursday Numbers” column of the year!

If you are new to Thursday Numbers, this is where I take a look at the numbers behind the news and provide some commentary with them.

Note to Readers:  This information can be used to amaze your friends, family, and co-workers – and you may even seem cooler to them after sharing this information!

Today we take a look at defense cuts, population, getting away, jobs, a birthday, corruption, congress, guns and 911, and much more!

8,000,000,000

In a story from the Associated Press published in several newspapers today, it was reported that Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta:

…has not publicly endorsed eliminating any of the three legs of the nuclear “triad” — bombers, subs and land-based missiles — but in a letter to Congress last fall he wrote that if the Pentagon faced an additional $500 billion in spending cuts starting in 2013 it might eliminate the land-based missile leg, saving $8 billion.

The article also appeared in the Great Falls Tribune.

It would be very poor defense strategy to eliminate all land-based missiles although I can see one or two missile bases closing to help balance the books.  Whichever state has the most political clout will keep their missiles.

1,000,000

The State of Montana estimates that Montana has surpassed 1 million in population.

That means there are a lot of “non-native Montanans” in the state…which might anger you third, fourth, fifth generation Montanans…

372,000

That’s how many new claims for unemployment were filed last week.

Lots of people are without jobs…these are just new claims.

2160

That’s how many jobs are being lost in Wichita, Kansas.  The Boeing Co. announced Wednesday it would close aerospace operations there by the end of 2013.

That’s tough for a city the size of Wichita…(population around 380,000).

80

According to this story, a telecommunications company is proposing to build an 80-foot tall telecommunications tower in Glacier National Park.

Maybe we should have a place where we can go and not be contacted…

84

Happy 84th birthday to former Vice President Walter Mondale.

48

A new poll from Rasmussen Reports “shows that 48% of Likely U.S. Voters believe that most members of Congress are corrupt.”

Nooooooo…

23

The U.S. Senate convenes for the first time this year on January 23.  The Democratic retreat is scheduled for January 26/27.

Nice work if you can get it.  I like retreats…

17

The U.S. House of Representatives convenes for the first time this year on January 17.  The Republican retreat is scheduled for January 19/20.

Did I say I like retreats…

8

Mitt Romney won the Iowa Caucus by eight votes over Rick Santorum Tuesday night.

Iowa just finished their “15 minutes of fame” for another four years —see ya!

6

According to this story, there are six states with populations of less than 1 million: Alaska, Delaware, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming.

Montana has better scenery…

4

There are only 4 bowl games left.

Now what?

2

As two men tried to break into her home on New Year’s Eve, Sarah Dawn McKinley called 911 and asked if it was OK to shoot the intruders. Read the rest of the story HERE.

Note to intruders:  I will call 911 afterwards…

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