The funny thing about getting older, your eyesight may weaken yet you can see through people much better. -Unknown

Welcome to “Thursday Numbers!” In case you’re a first-time visitor, this is the weekly column where I take a look at the numbers that are in the news (in descending order) and provide commentary sometimes sprinkled with sarcasm, humor, and bluntness.

This week’s topics include federal government spending, Mega Millions jackpot, duck boat crash, unemployment, Global Peace Index rankings, St. Louis Blues & the Stanley Cup, best/worst records in MLB, a Florida man, U.S. women’s national team, Montana Democrats & Senator Daines, plus much more!

3,013,541,000,000

For the first time in the history of the United States, the federal government has spent more than $3 trillion in the first eight months of the fiscal year, according to the Monthly Treasury Statement released today. The record $3,013,541,000,000 that the federal government spent in October through May of fiscal 2019 was $181,157,920,000 more than the previous record of $2,832,383,080,000 (in constant May 2019 dollars) that the federal government spent in October through May of fiscal 2009. (CNS News)

Wow! Does anyone care?

522,000,000

A California Lottery player who purchased a Mega Millions ticket in San Diego has won the $522 million jackpot (less federal taxes). The winner has the option of taking the lump-sum amount of $340.1 million or the entire $522 million spread out in annual payments over 30 years. (MegaMillions.com)

Hey buddy…call me! 

4,000,000

A jury has awarded $4 million in damages to Rebecca Rhodes West of Billings, Montana, for physical and emotional injuries she suffered after being ejected from a duck boat tour vehicle in a crash that killed five college students and injured dozens nearly four years ago. (AP)

222,000

That’s how many people filed new claims for unemployment last week. (USDOL)

128

The world has gotten a little more peaceful, according to the 13th annual Global Peace Index, a complex study that ranks 163 nations on factors such as homicide and incarceration rates, the presence of small arms, military expenditures, ongoing conflicts, terrorism, the overall economic impact of violence and even climate change. The United States is ranked 128th on the peace list, down four places from last year.

Iceland is the most peaceful nation, with New Zealand second. Afghanistan ranks as the world’s least peaceful nation — with Syria as runner-up. (Washington Times)

52

The St. Louis Blues won the first Stanley Cup in their 52-year history Wednesday night, beating the Boston Bruins, 4-1, on the road in Game 7 of a back-and-forth series to complete a Cinderella comeback from last place halfway through the season. (NBC)

Congrats to the Blues! #PlayGloria

46-23

That’s the record of the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB), which is the best record in the MLB. The Kansas City Royals and the Baltimore Orioles have records of 21-46, which are the worst records in MLB. (ESPN)

20

A Florida man is accused of swallowing 20 rocks of crack cocaine before leading police on a chase from Miami to the Upper Keys. According to Florida City Police, Mark Edward Welch, a 50-year-old from Lake Worth, was involved in a hit and run crash on the mainland and attempted escape towards the Keys.(CBS Local)

I’ll bet there was a dragon chasing him…

13-0

The U.S. women’s national team defeated Thailand 13-0 Tuesday night in their first match of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Some say the USA team celebrated too much after the game was well in hand. Others say they should not have run up the score. (AP)

As for running up the score, in the group stage how many goals teams score counts in the standings. As for celebrating goals after the game was well in hand, I have no problem with it – what goes around comes around.

6

The Montana Democrats sent a press release saying that U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) missed six votes on Wednesday to attend a fundraiser in Billings with Vice President Mike Pence.

To be fair, Daines, Pence, and Congressman Greg Gianforte had an official meeting about the meth epidemic, but probably the main reason for Pence being in Montana was the fundraiser. That photo of Daines and Gianforte getting off Air Force Two in Billings with Pence is fundraising gold.

To be even fairer, if the tables were turned the Democrats would have done the same thing.

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