Welcome to “Thursday Numbers!” If you are a new visitor, this is my weekly column where I take a look at the numbers that are in the news (in descending order) and provide commentary (sometimes with a little sarcasm).

PLEASE NOTE: If you read this column you may be able to use the information to impress your family, friends, and co-workers. Then again, when they find out that you spend your time reading blogs they may not be too impressed…

This week I write about the Fort Peck Dam, mineral payments, mud snails, unemployment, the Montana Legislature and Medicaid, Day 67, Drones, Hotel Finn, Iconic, Miami Heat, Lady Gaga, Baby George, hunting at Walmart, and the urinal gaming system!

42,900,000

The repairs to Fort Peck Dam (in Montana) will cost $42.9 million. By the way, if you’ve not seen the Montana PBS show “Fort Peck Dam,” you should. You can find the date/time of the next show HERE.

History is cool…

2,500,000

Montana will lose $2.5 million in federal mineral payments from the U.S. Department of Interior over the next five months according to the Associated Press.

Hello sequester…

876,752

According to this story, “The National Science Foundation awarded a grant for $876,752 to the University of Iowa to study whether there is any benefit to sex among New Zealand mud snails and whether that explains why any organism has sex.”

I bet if they could interview a mud snail the snail would say there is a benefit…

357,000

In the week ending March 23, new claims for unemployment climbed to 357,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 341,000.

70,000

Lee Newspapers reported “Republicans on a pair of legislative committees voted Wednesday evening to kill proposals to expand Medicaid, which would provide health coverage for 70,000 uninsured, low-income Montanans starting next year.”

Republicans in the Montana Legislature are sure doing a great job of making themselves look like the party of the rich and privileged…

67

This is day 67 of the Montana Legislature.

Hang in there Montanans – the long nightmare is coming to an end…

65

According to Gallup, “Nearly two-thirds of Americans (65%) think the U.S. government should use drones to launch airstrikes in other countries against suspected terrorists. Americans are, however, much less likely to say the U.S. should use drones to launch airstrikes in other countries against U.S. citizens living abroad who are suspected terrorists (41%); to launch airstrikes in the U.S. against suspected terrorists living here (25%); and to launch airstrikes in the U.S. against U.S. citizens living here who are suspected terrorists (13%).

I bet terrorists are 100% against the use of drones…

35

The Hotel Finn in Helsinki, Finland, is seeking applicants to stay in their hotel for 35 days and then write about it. Being fluent in Finnish and English is required. Knowing Russian helps, too. 600 people have already applied…

Hello room service…

29

The managing editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel told staffers they were using the world “iconic” too much. A search of the newspaper’s website for the past seven days found they had used “iconic” 29 times.

Epic…

27

The Chicago Bulls ended the Miami Heat’s 27-game winning streak Wednesday night 101-97. The 1972 Los Angeles Lakers hold the record for most wins in a row at 33.

Good.

27

Lady Gaga turns 27 today – Happy Birthday! Time to watch Bad Romance!

15.7

That’s the size (15 pounds, 7 ounces) of a baby born (naturally) in England. His name is George.

I imagine he will be able to drive later this year…

10

A man killed a 10 point buck in a Walmart parking lot in Pennsylvania. He was charged with reckless endangerment and hunting law violations.

It sounds like something they would do in Iowa…

1

The Philadelphia Phillies’ top minor league baseball affiliate will be the first ballpark to get the “urinal gaming system.” The game will be ready for opening day. All you have to do is aim right or left…

This should increase beer sales, too…

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