Thanks for stopping by and reading Thursday Numbers! If this is your first time visiting The Western Word (TWW), Thursday Numbers is where I take a look at the numbers mentioned in the news and provide commentary (often with a touch of sarcasm).
ADVISORY: You will probably gain an immeasurable amount of knowledge by reading this column! You will probably be able to use this knowledge to impress your family, friends and co-workers! At least it might be something to use as trivia! The information might even be life-changing – so consider yourself warned…
This week I write about the internet and advertising, tourism, unemployment, a couple sad days to remember, a great coach, Cinco de Mayo, jail, music in schools, a traffic ticket, new polls, baseball, football, iced tea and much more!
31,000,000,000
According to this story from the Associated Press, “Revenue from Internet advertising in the U.S. hit a record $31 billion last year, according to a study released Wednesday.”
Thank you Al Gore…
10,500,000
According to this story, “A new report by the University of Montana says tourism is up in Montana with more than 10.5 million travelers visiting the state in 2011.”
Come to Montana and spend some dough…
386,000
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there were 386,000 NEW CLAIMS for unemployment filed last week.
The number of people who have quit looking for work is well into the millions…
155,000
Former University of Montana athletic director Jim O’Day will receive $155,000 plus benefits through June 2013.
Nice contract…
1993
According to the Associated Press on this date in 1993, “A 51-day siege at the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas, ended when fire destroyed the structure after federal agents smashed their way in. Dozens of people, including sect leader David Koresh, were killed.”
That situation was handled very poorly…
1098
That’s how many wins Tennessee women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt has. She stepped down as head coach on Wednesday.
Great coach…
700
According to this story, “A Kansas City promoter hopes to break a world record by parading at least 700 costumed dogs, mostly Chihuahuas, down a city street on Cinco de Mayo.”
I like tacos…
464
That’s how many beds are in the jail in Hardin, Montana. It sits empty and “Economic development officials in Hardin voted Tuesday to relinquish control of a $27 million jail.” They are turning it over to the bondholders.
I still think this would have been a great place to move the Gitmo detainees…
168
On this date in 1995, “A truck bomb exploded outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people and injuring 500. (Timothy McVeigh was later convicted of federal murder charges and executed.)”
That was a sad day for so many people…
166
According to this story, “The National Association of Music Merchants Foundation announced this week that Great Falls Public Schools is one of 166 school districts across the country named as a ‘best community’ for music education.”
Music in schools is very important – so support it!
85
That’s how much an “improper turn” traffic ticket costs in Great Falls, Montana.
I personally know about this…
82
Dick Clark died Wednesday at age 82. RIP
I remember Saturday mornings as a kid and my older sister wanting to watch Bandstand…I wanted to watch cartoons…
49
According to the Associated Press, Colorado Rockies pitcher “Jamie Moyer showed there remains a place for a vintage lefty in a young man’s game as the 49-year-old became the oldest pitcher to ever win a major league contest.”
Hat tip to the old guy…
33
This Sunday is the 33rd annual Ice Breaker Road Race in Great Falls, Montana.
It’s supposed to be in the mid 70s on Sunday, so any ice that is left will probably break pretty easily…
24
According to Gallup, “Americans’ satisfaction with the way things are going in the country leveled off in April at 24%, slightly lower than March’s 26%. Satisfaction remains higher than in any month in 2011 except May, and substantially higher than the recent low point last summer of 11%.”
We’re not too happy…
21
According to this story from Reuters, “U.S. Secret Service agents and military personnel took as many as 21 women back to their hotel in Colombia in an incident last week involving alleged misconduct with prostitutes, a Republican senator said on Tuesday.”
I’ve worked with Secret Service personnel several times and this news was shocking…
17
A new poll from Gallup tells us “Americans still hold Congress in low regard, but its 17% job approval rating is the highest since last July. Congress’ approval had dipped to a record-low 10% in February.”
I don’t think they should pop the cork on the champagne to celebrate just yet…
7
The Kansas City Royals have lost seven games in a row and they are now in last place in the American League Central.
It might be time to get rid of the manager before this season is lost…
5
On Wednesday, September 5, 2012, the NFL regular season kicks off with the Dallas Cowboys visiting the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants. The game will be broadcast on NBC.
I am ready for some football…
2
According to this story, “A South Carolina county’s deputies say a McDonald’s employee spit in two customers’ cups of iced tea after the drinks were returned because they weren’t sweet enough.”
I like sweet tea…
1
Public Policy Polling (PPP) has Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer coming in at just 1% in a 2016 Democratic primary poll. They also say he is “pretty much completely unknown.”
Although Schweitzer has said several times he does not care for Washington, D.C., I would venture to say his ego took a hit when he read this poll…
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