Welcome to the first “Thursday Numbers” of March!

If you are a first-time visitor, “Thursday Numbers” is the column where I take a look at the numbers that are in the news (in descending order) and provide commentary (sometimes spiked with a little sarcasm).

This week I write about Mega Millions, unemployment, asteroid, Cronkite, sexual and violent offender roundup, Michelle Obama, Walter Williams, western Montana priests, Air Force Academy, another vote to repeal Obamacare, obesity & skinny jeans, a joyride, C-130 cargo planes, the Debo Adegbile vote, John Walsh, John Lewis, and much more!

270,000,000

That’s the Mega Millions ($270 million) jackpot for Friday night’s drawing.

What will I do with my winnings?

323,000

That’s how many people filed new claims for unemployment last week. It was fewer than the week before, which is always good news! (Source)

217,000

I forgot to duck! An asteroid passed between the moon and Earth on Wednesday. It passed about 217,000 miles from Earth. (Source)

My redneck cousin told me he had asteroids when he was younger and they were painful…

1981

On this date in 1981 Walter Cronkite signed off for the last time as anchorman of “The CBS Evening News.” (Source)

Walter was one of the good ones…

95

The Associated Press reported this week “A law enforcement sweep in Montana’s most populous county located 95 sexual and violent offenders who were out of compliance with address registration laws.”

I salute the law enforcement folks for ensuring these people abide by the rules from their sentences.

78

78-year-old Walter Williams was thought to be dead. Then Walter started kicking from inside his body bag. (Source)

Creepy…

66

First lady Michelle Obama has a favorable rating of 66% and an unfavorable rating of 29%, according to Gallup Polling.

I think Michelle Obama is doing a fine job as first lady…

50

The Associated Press reported, “More than 50 priests in western Montana, most of whom are dead, will be named as sexual abusers of children if a legal settlement is approved, an attorney for plaintiffs suing the Roman Catholic Diocese of Helena said.”

Good. These sleazebags deserve to have their names known even if they are dead.

40

The Air Force Academy is investigating 40 freshman cadets who may have cheated in a chemistry class.

The Air Force Academy’s mascot is called the Falcons. They may need to change that to the Cheetahs…

27

That’s how many House democrats voted on a bill to delay tax penalties for failing to buy health insurance this year under ObamaCare. The bill passed 250-160, but “the bill is expected to go nowhere in the Democratic-controlled Senate and would face a White House veto even if it succeeded.”

NBC News reported, “For the fiftieth time, the GOP-led House has voted on a measure to dismantle the Obama-backed health care law.”

It’s a pretty ridiculous display of political theater being performed by the House Republicans.

19.6

According to Gallup polling, that’s the percentage of Montanans who are obese. That’s the lowest in the nation. Mississippi has the highest rate at 35.4%.

Hey Montanans – I see some skinny jeans in your future!

10

From Reuters – “A 10-year-old Norwegian boy who took his parents’ car for a joyride last week, claiming he was a dwarf who forgot his driver’s license, has hit the road again.”

Just wait until he becomes a teenager…

8

The first of eight C-130 cargo planes arrived in Great Falls Saturday. The Montana Air National Guard (MANG) unit is now called the 120th Airlift Wing. (Source)

This is the first time that MANG has not had fighter jets since 1947, and that’s a shame. The Montana Congressional delegation and the governor should be ashamed of their failure to keep jets in Montana.

It’s kind of like trading a corvette for a dump truck…

7

The Washington Post reported Wednesday that the U.S. Senate rejected the Obama appointment of Debo Adegbile to the top civil rights post. Seven senate democrats, including Montana’s newest U.S. Senator John Walsh, voted against the Obama nominee.

2

Roll Call reported Wednesday “If people like their old health care plans, they can keep them for another two years, the administration said late Wednesday.”

That will give House Republicans two more years to hold insignificant votes to do away with Obamacare.

I’d like to see them work together to make the program better for all. U.S. House candidate John Lewis (D-Mont.) has the right idea about Obamacare. KRTV in Great Falls (MT) showed a clip of him filing for office where he said he understands the law needs improving, and that he wants to work with both sides to fix the problems with it.

That’s a lot better approach than no, no, no, and it makes Lewis a stronger candidate in my humble opinion.

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