Congratulations on making it to Thursday – the weekend is in sight so hang on! If this is your first time visiting The Western Word (TWW), “Thursday Numbers” is my weekly column where I take a look at the numbers mentioned in the news (in descending order) and provide commentary (sometimes with a little sarcasm).
NOTICE: By reading this column you will probably gain a great deal of knowledge not found on other websites! You can use this information to impress your family, friends and co-workers, and it might even be life changing – so consider yourself warned…
This week I write about the Powerball drawing, embezzlement, unemployment, the Governor and e-Bay, sewage bills, days until the election, the Montana State Fair, Mick Jagger, beautiful people, skydiving, a big lobster, a big crocodile, Sandra Bullock, Miracle Treat Day, tax votes, and much more!
139,000,000
That’s how much the jackpot is ($139,000,000) for the next Powerball drawing on Saturday.
It’s OK to dream about winning it…
3,700,000
The FBI is looking into “the embezzlement of nearly $3.7 million from First Security Bank in Malta” (MT) the Associated Press reported on Tuesday.
Did anyone think a bank in Malta, Montana, would even have $3.7 million to embezzle?
353,000
The U.S. Department of Labor reported 353,000 people filed new claims for unemployment last week. That is down from the previous week’s revised figure of 388,000.
That is good news just about everywhere except on FOX News…
265
That’s the current bid (as of this morning) on eBay for a “Veto Plaque” from Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer. The proceeds will go to NARAL Pro-Choice Montana. H/T Havre Daily Corrector.
Maybe the Feds could sell some stuff on e-Bay and pay down the debt…
140
Pay your bills! A man had a $140 sewage bill. “But when that bill went unpaid for four years, the $140 bill turned into a home foreclosure notice and $50,000 in debt.”
That’s pretty crappy…
104
That’s how many days there are until the General Election on November 6!
Most people are not paying attention yet…
81
The Montana State Fair in Great Falls is celebrating its 81st year. It all starts this Friday, July 27, and runs through Saturday, August 4.
Be sure to check out one of my favorite bands, The Hope Movement, on the 3 Rivers Stage Friday at 5:00. They play several times during the fair…
69
Happy 69th birthday to Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones…
50
Since I look out for my readers – here is The Hill’s 50 most beautiful people on Capitol Hill for 2012. Enjoy!
Spoiler: Max Baucus, Jon Tester and Denny Rehberg did not make the list…
48
Happy 48th birthday to actress Sandra Bullock…
18
Skydiver “Fearless Felix” Baumgartner (an Austrian daredevil) jumped from a balloon flying at more than 18 miles above Earth on Wednesday. He plans to jump from 23 miles up in the near future which would be a world record.
17
According to the Associated Press, “A Connecticut man purchased a 17-pound lobster at a Waterford restaurant, then released the crustacean back into Long Island Sound.”
That was a nice thing to do…
10
According to this story, “Residents in a South Miami neighborhood woke up to an unwanted guest Wednesday morning when a 10-foot crocodile was spotted walking through front yards.”
7
Today (TODAY) is the seventh annual Miracle Treat Day at Dairy Queen!
So go get yourself a Blizzard and help a child…
2
The United States Senate voted on a couple of tax bills on Wednesday, one by the Republicans and one by the Democrats. The Democratic bill passed. It would extend tax cuts in 2013 for millions of Americans that otherwise would expire in January, except for the richest Americans. The Republican bill failed. The Republican bill included tax cuts for the richest Americans.
This was all done for political posturing for the November elections. The Democratic bill will not pass the U.S. House. Remember faithful readers – in Washington it’s all about winning the next election.
Follow Jack on Twitter @TheWesternWord…
The Western Word 